PSL 2020, Match 26, Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars, Preview – Both sides seek a crucial win to climb up the points table

Lahore Qalandars have amassed three consecutive wins in PSL 2020.

Published - 11 Mar 2020, 20:14 IST | Updated - 11 Mar 2020, 20:14 IST

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Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars will lock horns in the upcoming game of PSL. These two teams had a very dissimilar stint in the 5th edition of the tournament. On one side, Kings looked pretty consistent as they got off to a good start with a win against Peshawar Zalmi but they lost back-to-back games before tasting they registered consecutive wins. However, in the previous game, they had to suffer a big defeat by a margin of eight wickets.

On the other, Qalandars have marked a strong comeback in PSL 2020 with back to back three consecutive wins in the tournament. Earlier, they had to wait for three games before tasting their first win. But they were jolted with another defeat against Islamabad United before making their way back on track.

At one point they were on the verge of getting knocked out from PSL 2020. But, brilliance from their players on the field changed the fate of the team. Now, they are moving on their winning streak and are currently on the third position in the league table.

These both the teams had come face to face earlier in this season and Qalandars had come out as winners by eight wickets. In that game, Sohail Akhtar and Ben Dunk had scored vital fifties that took the match away from Karachi Kings. Now, it will be interesting to watch if Kings will manage to take the avenge of their previous defeat or not on Thursday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Team Combination

Lahore Qalandars

The new opening pair of Sohail Akhtar and Fakhar Zaman has worked for Qalandars as they both are smashing bowlers all across the park quite effortlessly. In middle-order, they have Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk, Dane Vilas and Samit Patel, who will look to click some good knocks in the upcoming clash.

Meanwhile, they have a formidable fast bowling unit that comprises of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Shenwari and Salman Irshad and they have done their job brilliantly in the latter part of the tournament. Even Samit Patel, the leg spinner has also regained his form with the ball that has given a much-needed strength to the team’s spin bowling department.

Probable XI:- Fakhar Zaman, Sohail Akhtar (c), Chris Lynn, Ben Dunk (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Samit Patel, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi, Dilbar Hussain, Haris Rauf, Maaz Khan

Karachi Kings

Karachi Kings might opt for a change as they can look to play with Awais Zia as a replacement for out of form Sharjeel Khan, who had a great domestic season. He can well open the innings with Babar Azam for Kings followed by Alex Hales, Chadwick Walton, Cameron Delport and Iftikhar Ahmed in the middle. However, they need to make sure that their players in the middle should come out with some mesmerising performance if their top order fails to score.

It is well known that Kings heavily depends on Babar Azam and Alex Hales and if they fail then the things start going against them. In the meantime, they have a strong bowling line up that should not be questioned with the likes of Chris Jordan, Mohammad Amir and Amer Yamin and Umer Khan that can restrict any strong batting line up from scoring good runs.

Probable XI:- Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Alex Hales, Cameron Delport, Iftikhar Ahmed, Chadwick Walton (wk), Imad Wasim (c), Chris Jordan, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Umer Khan

The players in focus

Ben Dunk (Lahore Qalandars)

Ben Dunk is in red hot form with the bat, who is single-handedly winning the games for his team. So far he has scored a total of 257 runs in six games with the help of two fifties at a strike rate of 199.22. His performance will play a vital role in the clash against Kings. If he fails to perform with the bat then the things might get cheeky for Qalandars.

Alex Hales (Karachi Kings)

Babar Azam is trying his best to keep his side in the tournament on the back of his batting. He is currently the leading run-scorer for his team with 239 runs in six games with the help of two fifties at a strike rate of 156.20. If he manages to click a good kn0ck on Thursday then the chances of Kings winning the match will be quite high against Qalandars.