HBL PSL 6: Karachi takes on Lahore with playoffs spot on the line

Defending champions Karachi Kings will face arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars, in today’s HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season six clash, with the playoffs spot on the line.

The Imad Wasim-led unit have lost three games in a row since the restart and have to win, both, of their remaining matches, inorder to stay in contention for the playoffs. Karachi are currently in fifth position with three wins from eight games.  

On their other hand, Lahore, who were the runner-ups last season, will seal their place in the playoffs with a win today. They are currently in third position, on the points table, with five wins after eight games. Qalandars have also lost their last two games and will be eager to get back to winning ways, ahead of the playoffs.

A key battle to look forward to will be between Kings’ opener Babar Azam and Qalandars’ pacer Shaheen Afridi. The latter had dismissed the former in the previous match between the two sides, this season, so it will be interesting to see Babar’s response this time.  

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Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim: “We’re still well placed and there are positives for us. Nothing to lose now, we have to win both games to stay in the tournament. We have to give ourselves a chance in both batting and bowling. We’ll sit together tomorrow and come back hard, if we think we can’t do it, then there’s no point.”

Lahore Qalandars captain Sohail Akhtar: “Need to take responsibility in difficult overs. We spoke about roles, and we will speak about roles once again. Batters need to take responsibilities otherwise we’ll get results like these.”

Squads

Karachi Kings: Imad Wasim (c), Abbas Afridi, Amir Yamin, Arshad Iqbal, Babar Azam, Chadwick Walton, Danish Aziz, Martin Guptill, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Haris, Thisara Perera, Najeebullah Zadran, Noor Ahmed, Qasim Akram, Sharjeel Khan, Waqas Maqsood and Zeeshan Malik

Lahore Qalandars: Sohail Akhtar (c), Ahmed Danyal, Ben Dunk, Callum Ferguson, Dilbar Hussain, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, James Faulkner, Maaz Khan, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Hafeez, Rashid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Seekuge Prasanna, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sultan Ahmed, Tim David, Zaid Alam and Zeeshan Ashraf.