Islamabad United players to arrive in Karachi tonight

KARACHI: Cricketers from Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Islamabad United, including foreign inductees, will arrive in Karachi tonight to play the final of the third edition of the tournament against Peshawar Zalmi.

Islamabad, the winner of the inaugural edition of PSL, defeated Karachi Kings in the qualifier in Dubai to earn a direct flight to the final in Karachi, which will be played on Sunday.

“We are arriving tonight to Karachi, our foreign players are also coming with the squad for the match,” said an official of Islamabad United.

United’s foreign players who have agreed to visit Pakistan include South African JP Duminy, England’s Samit Patel, West Indian Chadwick Walton, New Zealander Luke Ronchi and Ashes winner Englishman Steven Finn.

Sam Billings is unable to visit Pakistan after he couldn’t get NOC to travel from his county team Kent. Alex Hales has also decided against travelling to Pakistan.

Former Australian cricketer and United coach Dean Jones will also arrive in Pakistan with the team.

Three Pakistan-based players of United Misbah-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Sami are already in Pakistan and will join the rest of the squad directly in Karachi.

The team will arrive in Pakistan at around 12:35am tonight and will be taken to the hotel with the security protocols set for the players.

The final of the third edition of PSL will be played between the champions of first edition Islamabad United and the winner of second edition Peshawar Zalmi in Karachi on Sunday.

Zalmi’s squad arrived in Karachi late Thursday night from Lahore, where they beat Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings in eliminators.