PSL 2018, Final: Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi – Match Predictions

After a month-long hustle, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has finally reached its climax as the Islamabad United and the Peshawar Zalmi are set to lock horns in the final to be hosted in Karachi tomorrow. While Islamabad hands down has been the best team in the tournament so far and deserved a place the summit clash, the same can’t be said about Zalmi who played some really average cricket at the group stage.

However what’s commendable about Peshawar was that they managed to lift their game at the crunch time. They were in a situation where they needed to win their last two group games to qualify for the playoffs and not only did they do that, they subsequently won two virtual quarter-finals as well in the playoffs to eventually earn a ticket to the finale.

It’s going to be an absolute party atmosphere in Karachi as international players will be on show there after a long gap of 9 years. It was way back in 2009 that this part of the world had witnessed this level of cricket. The stands should be full and the atmosphere electric.

Pitch and Conditions

Karachi and flat pitches have always gone hand in hand and there is a minimal chance that tomorrow’s pitch will be an exception. It should be flat and full of runs again as per the characteristics of a normal Karachi wicket and dew will make the conditions, even more, batting friendly. A high scoring game should be on the cards and batting second will be an advantage purely because of the dew.

Playing Combination

Islamabad United

Islamabad United will be without their captain Misbah-ul-Haq in this fixture as he has sustained a wrist injury and it will be JP Duminy discharging the captaincy duties. Alex Hales and Sam Billings did not travel to Pakistan due to security issues, so they won’t be featuring either. Islamabad’s overseas quarter will be Luke Ronchi, Chadwick Walton, Duminy himself and Samit Patel.

While Islamabad would have been a much stronger outfit in the presence of Misbah and Hales, what they have still got at their disposal is good enough to win the tournament and Peshawar won’t and shouldn’t make the mistake of taking them lightly.

Predicted XI: Mohammad Sami, Sahibzada Farhan, Luke Ronchi, JP Duminy (C), Samit Patel, Chadwick Walton, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Amad Butt, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf

Peshawar Zalmi

Peshawar Zalmi doesn’t have any injury concerns and they in all likelihood should be fielding the same XI they fielded last game. They have had their issues in the bowling department which they will want to correct, but they have been flying with their batting. Kamran Akmal has all of a sudden hit the purple pitch and is getting ably supported by the middle order as well.

Peshawar’s main man with the ball will be Wahab Riaz. The left-armer has been top class right through the tournament; however, in the last couple of games, he hasn’t looked that stingy. He has still bowled quick but hasn’t quite nailed those Yorkers he generally does. If he rises to the occasion and brings out his A game, that will make Peshawar a completely different bowling unit.

Predicted XI: Kamran Akmal (wk), Tamim Iqbal, Chris Jordan, Mohammad Hafeez, Saad Nasim, Darren Sammy (C), Liam Dawson, Umaid Asif, Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Sameen Gul

Here is what CricTracker predicts for the match:

Probable Top Performers

Mohammad Sami (Islamabad United), Kamran Akmal (Peshawar Zalmi)

Head to Head

Matches – 7, Peshawar Zalmi – 3, Islamabad United – 4 Tie – 0

The timing of the match: 07:30 pm IST

Broadcast Details

TV – D Sport

The prediction is for the Peshawar Zalmi to beat the Islamabad United and win the PSL 3.