Karachi Kings to Face Islamabad United as Elimination Threat Looms

Karachi Kings to Face Islamabad United as Elimination Threat Looms
Karachi Kings to Face Islamabad United as Elimination Threat Looms

In the 21st match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022, Islamabad United will face Karachi Kings. On Monday, February 14, at 7:30 p.m. PKT, the two teams will face off at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Match Preview

The good news for Babar Azam’s Karachi Kings is that they still have a chance to go to the PSL playoffs, but they will have to rely on the outcomes of other clubs and win all of their matches by large margins.

Karachi Kings lost all of their first-phase matches in Karachi, and they started their Lahore leg with a crushing 55-run loss to Peshawar Zalmi at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday.

However, today’s game will be a do-or-die situation for the Kings, and they will undoubtedly strive even harder to buck the trend and win this game, as a loss tonight will eliminate them from contention for the playoffs.

Fans and management of the Karachi Kings will be hoping that Babar Azam will take the initiative and lead the team from the front, rather than relying on batters around him as the squad continues to struggle.

Islamabad United, on the other side, will try to maintain their winning streak and solidify their third-place finish in the PSL standings. If Islamabad United wins today’s match, they will remain in third place, but they would have a significant advantage over Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.

Match Details

Date Monday, 14 February 2022
Time 07:30 pm PKT
Venue Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Live Stream LINK

Possible Playing XIs

Karachi Kings possible XI – Babar Azam (c), Sharjeel Khan, Ian Cockbain, Mohammad Nabi, Sahibzada Farhan, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Imad Wasim, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Taha, Usman Shinwari

Islamabad United possible XI – Shadab Khan (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Mubasir Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Hasan Ali, Waqas Maqsood

Head to Head

In total, the two teams have met 17 times during the competition. Islamabad United has an advantage against Kings, having won 11 games to Kings’ 6. They last met on February 6, 2022, at National Stadium Karachi, in a game that Islamabad won by 42 runs.

X-Factor

Babar Azam will be expected to lead the squad from the front and eschew the defensive mindset that he has developed this season. Sharjeel Khan, who is largely dependent on him in the batting department, will also be expected to deliver for Karachi. Both Babar Azam and Sharjeel have a strong reputation in the PSL, as well as a strong track record versus Islamabad.

Prior to the crucial matches, Islamabad United will concentrate on improving their bowling department. Hasan Ali, the leading fast bowler for Islamabad United, will need to maintain his form ahead of the crucial PSL stage. Shadab Khan will also have to maintain his form as the league nears its conclusion.

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