PSL 2020, Match 6, Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators, Preview – Jason Roy and Shane Watson aim to put up a robust show against Imad Wasim and Co

Karachi Kings, under the captaincy of Imad Wasim, look pretty different from the past couple of seasons. They registered an emphatic victory in their curtain-raiser against the Peshawar Zalmi. Their, top-order batsman, Babar Azam showed his class with the bat. Babar outclassed every bowler with sheer dominance and rode his side to their maiden win in PSL 2020.

Other players like Sharjeel Khan, all-rounder Imad Wasim contributed well with the bat. It was an interesting thing to watch that  Sharjeel Khan, who was making his comeback into competitive cricket after long was finding it easy to smack the bowlers. His innings was short-lived but he announced his arrival in a pleasant way. The bowlers did well due to which they managed to restrict the runners-up of the previous season from chasing the target.

Quetta Gladiators played as per their reputation of champions. In their campaign opener, they were struggling with the collapse of their top order. But, an amazing half-century scored by Azam Khan rescued them from the early setbacks and helped them in winning the match against Islamabad United.

They gave standout performances on the back of strong teamwork. Even they earned two important points after registering a victory. Gladiators are currently ranked 2nd in the points table with the net run rate being the difference being the main difference between Gladiators and league-toppers Multan Sultans.

 Team Combination

Karachi Kings

Karachi Kings management will look to go with Babar Azam and Sharjeel Khan as their preferred openers with Cameron Delport expected to come out at number three position. He didn’t get enough runs in the opening match but the team management is expected to stick with him as far as his reputation as a batsman is concerned across the globe.

Imad Wasim smacked a brilliant fifty and is expected to continue at the same position in the next game. Meanwhile, the management can tinker the batting position of Chadwick Walton, who might swap batting position with Delport.

On the other hand, in the bowling department, Mohammad Amir and Chris Jordan did a great job in the curtain-raiser for their team. The former took one whereas the latter grabbed two wickets. Imad Wasim will also take care of the spin bowling department as he can grab some important wickets in crucial situations of the match.

Playing XI: Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Cameron Delport/Alex Hales, Imad Wasim (C), Chadwick Walton, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Umaid Asif, Chris Jordan, Mohammad Amir, Arshad Iqbal.

Quetta Gladiators

Quetta Gladiators have all their bases covered with nothing much to change when they will lock horns with Karachi Kings. The management will stick with dashing pair of openers– Shane Watson and Jason Roy even though they failed to muscle good runs with the bat in the opening game. Azam Khan might get a chance to bat up the order due to his amazing performance against Islamabad United with Sarfaraz Ahmed coming out at No.4 position.

Mohammad Nawaz and Ben Cutting can also score some good runs in the lower middle order at a high strike rate when needed in the game. If management wants, then they can add another batting option and Ahsan Ali can come in as a replacement for Abdul Nasir, who failed miserably to take wickets against Islamabad United.

Meanwhile, their bowling unit looks pretty stable that has given up to the mark performances so far in PSL 2020. Mohammad Hasnain will lead the bowling attack followed by Sohail Khan, and Ben Cutting. In spin bowling, the duo of Abdul Nasir and Fawaz Ahmed is enough to push opponents on the backfoot in any game.

Probable XI: Shane Watson, Jason Roy, Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK), Azam Khan, Abdul Nasir/Ahsan Ali, Ben Cutting/Tymal Mills, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Sohail Khan, Fawad Ahmed

The focus will be on

Babar Azam (Karachi Kings)

Babar Azam is currently the number one batsman in the shorter format. He showed his dominance in the first match on the back of his 79-run knock against Peshawar Zalmi. He is expected to continue with the same in the clash against Quetta Gladiators. Moreover, the Pakistani international has muscled three fifties in the last five T20Is for his team.

Jason Roy (Quetta Gladiators)

Jason Roy, the right-handed opener from England is enjoying his time as T20I specialist opener. He has done an amazing job with his willow in his recent games for the national team. If we, go by the stats, Roy has scored 253 runs in his last 5 T20I appearances on the back of three amazing fifties that he managed to score overseas.

Head to Head

Matches played – 8 | KAR won– 3| QUE won – 5 | Draw – 0

Stat Attack

4/25 – Mohammad Hasnain has already taken a four-wicket haul in PSL 2020.

253 –  Jason Roy is in amazing form with the bat in the shorter format. He has managed to score 253 runs in last five T20Is with the help of three fifties.

Broadcast details

TV – DSports

Live Streaming – Cricketgateway.com

Match Timings – 2:30 pm IST and 9:00 am GMT