The Panthers are ready to take on the Markhors in the final of the Champions One-Day Cup on Sunday at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

The Panthers, led by Shadab Khan, made it to the finals after defeating the Markhors in Qualifier 1 by 7 wickets on Tuesday. They successfully chased down a target of 138 runs in just 23.4 overs. Usman Khan was the star of the match, scoring an impressive unbeaten 54 runs off only 26 balls, hitting 5 fours and 4 sixes at a striking rate of 207.69.

In the first innings, the Panthers bowled the Markhors out for just 137 runs in 36 overs. The bowlers Mohammad Hasnain and Saim Ayub played a key role, taking crucial wickets early on and putting the Markhors under pressure throughout their innings.

The second Eliminator, however, was abandoned due to a wet outfield, allowing the Markhors to reach the finals based on their higher points tally during the league stage. According to the tournament rules, if a play-off match is washed out, the team with the most points from the league matches qualifies.

The points table shows that the Markhors, captained by Mohammad Rizwan, finished on top with three wins and one loss, earning 38 points. In contrast, the Lions, led by Shaheen Afridi, were fourth with one win and three losses, totaling just 12 points.

This season, the two teams have met twice. In their last encounter on September 12, the Markhors secured a decisive victory, winning by 160 runs against the Panthers.

It’s important to note that some players from the England Test squad will not be participating in the final. Key players like Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, and Salman Ali Agha will miss the game on Sunday.