As the last two seasons have showcased, Pakistan Super League kicks into an unparalleled gear once it enters the Pakistan leg. Last year we had the playoffs and the final in Pakistan which were immense successes both on and off the field. The PSL 2 final at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore was especially historic given its significance at the time and the effort put in to make it happen given the turmoil that immediately preceded it.
PSL 4 will build on what was made possible in the previous two seasons, by hosting eight matches in Pakistan this year. While these contests were originally supposed to be divided between Lahore and Karachi, the crisis with India and the accompanying prolonged shutdown of the Lahore airport has meant that all of the matches would now be played in Karachi.
Whether Lahore or Karachi hosted the matches was going to be irrelevant in the larger picture. What was important was that all these matches are held in Pakistan, to make sure we progress towards hosting the entire tournament in the country soon, and host regular international competition along with it.
Again, the significance in terms of bolstering international cricket in Pakistan notwithstanding, the eight contests look all set to be enthralling on the field as well.
PSL 2 final, Lahore
The Karachi leg would start off with Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United facing off each other on Saturday in a match that could decide playoff positions. Should United beat Qalandars, they would seal their spot in the playoffs leaving traditional rivals Lahore and Karachi to slug it out for the fourth spot. However, if Qalandars beat United, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore would all be on 8 points with the Kings still having two games in hand and Qalandars one.
With Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi having not only qualified for the playoffs, they are also set to finish in the top two – Quetta have ensured it, while Peshawar are certain of it unless Karachi win both their matches resoundingly. That means Quetta and Peshawar are almost certain to play Wednesday’s qualifier and that one of these two teams would be in next Sunday’s final of the PSL 4.
In addition to bolstering international cricket, the eight contests in Karachi look set to be enthralling on field as well
What that also means is that Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore are currently in a three-way battle to finish in the top four, which would pit the two sides finishing third and fourth in Thursday’s first eliminator, with Multan Sultans already eliminated.
What is the most intriguing aspect of this three-way dogfight is that as things stand all three sides have their destiny in their own hands. If United win their only remaining match, they are certain of a playoff berth. Similarly, if Qalandars and Kings win both of their remaining contests, they would finish in the top four as well. And while, Sultans might not be in with a chance to qualify for the playoffs, their match against Qalandars on Monday could help decide the fate of the league.
Therefore, all six sides are all in it, and will all play their part in the Karachi leg. However, it’s Gladiators and Zalmi who are the favourites to lift the PSL 4 crown.
Last week, we discussed in this space how the gap between the traditionally successful and unsuccessful PSL sides is narrowing. Well that has gone out of the window this week, with the current top three – Gladiators, Zalmi and United – being the three most decorated sides in PSL so far. However, it’s Gladiators who are yet to win a PSL title, something that they might be looking to fix this year around.
Of United, Kings and Qalandars it’s the former two who are the favourites to go through to the playoffs. United just need a solitary win, and if they do beat Qalandars on Saturday, Kings would need a single win to guarantee a playoff berth as well.
Even so, Kings’ remaining fixtures are against the top two, Gladiators and Zalmi. But perhaps given that they both have already qualified for the playoffs, it might actually be a good time to play them.
In any case, it’s all to play for in Karachi and the PSL moves to the bit that matters the most: the Pakistan leg.
