Karachi opt to bat against Islamabad as battle for PSL final begins

DUBAI: Karachi Kings won the toss and opted to bat in the qualifier against Islamabad United in the third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium tonight.

The winner of tonight’s match will secure a place in the final of the tournament, to be held in Karachi on March 25. The losing team will play the winner of Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators eliminator game in Lahore, in one more shot at a berth in the final.

Islamabad United are without captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who is out of cricket action due to a hairline fracture in his wrist.

South Africa’s JP Duminy is leading the side in Misbah’s absence.

Afridi is playing today, despite an injury scare earlier when he was reported to be suffering from knee pain and swelling.

Islamabad United

Head coach: Dean Jones

Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq

Squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Alex Hales, Sam Billings, Chadwick Walton, Luke Ronchi, Amad Butt, JP Duminy, Hussain Talat, Samit Patel, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Samuel Badree, Steven Finn, Mohammad Sami, Zafar Gohar, Mohammad Hasan, Rohail Nazir

Players to look out for:

Karachi Kings

Head coach: Mickey Arthur

Captain: Imad Wasim

Squad: Imad Wasim (c), Babar Azam, Joe Denly, Colin Ingram, Khurram Manzoor, Lendl Simmons, Saifullah Bangash, Eoin Morgan, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammed Taha, Tabish Khan, Ravi Bopara, Hasan Mohsin, Shahid Afridi, David Wiese, Usama Mir, Tymal Mills, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari