At the time of writing on Wednesday evening Peshawar Zalmi are off to a quick start in the rain-reduced 16-over second eliminator against Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, after having beaten Quetta Gladiators in Tuesday’s nail-biter by a single run.
The reduced overs mean that the power play has 5 overs, at the end of which, having put into bat by Mohammed Amir, Zalmi are 54 for no loss with Kamran Akmal displaying the kind of form that singlehandedly took Zalmi to the playoffs having been at the brink of elimination at the tail end of the group stage.
By the time you read this, one of Zalmi and Kings would have joined Islamabad United in Sunday’s final, which will be held at National Stadium, Karachi.
Sarfraz Ahmed and Kamran Akmal
United would be the favourites for Sunday’s final, having topped the group stage and being the form team of PSL 3. However, it could be a hard one to call if United are facing Zalmi, with Peshawar’s own winning streak at the time of writing.
Without using the many cliches, there indeed is the bigger picture in Karachi finally hosting a cricket match of such a high magnitude after almost a decade. Its importance can be gauged by the fact that all three of the West Indies T20 matches will be hosted in Karachi early next month.
The matches in both Lahore and Karachi will further ensure that PSL 4 would definitely be hosting significantly more than the one and three matches that have been held in Pakistan in seasons two and three.
Islamabad United
Considering the stark contrast between the attendances in the UAE and in Pakistan, PSL 4 being majorly held locally should be a foregone conclusion. A shortened format could be considered, maybe then even its entirety could be held in Pakistan.
Worst case scenario, if the tournament is as long as it is right now, with six teams playing a total of 34 matches, there could definitely be a ‘Pakistan leg’ just like there have been Dubai and Sharjah legs, with the former coming at the tournament’s end.
However, that is to be mulled over next year, with all the focus right now on the grand finale that is to be hosted in two days’ time.
United would be without both Misbah-ul-Haq and Rumman Raees for Sunday’s final, and should be led by JP Duminy, who captained the side in the first playoff, bulldozing Karachi Kings to resoundingly reach the final.
United’s success in PSL 3 has been based largely on the form of Luke Ronchi, who is second only Kamran Akmal in stakes for the player/batsman of the tournament. In fact, it is Akmal’s 17-ball fifty in Wednesday’s playoff that supplanted Ronchi from the top slot in the fastest fifties list, with the Kiwi wicketkeeper batsmen having held all three spots before the playoffs.
PSL returns to Pakistan
What United have also successfully done is have a floating batting 11 other than Rochi, with everyone given the chance to play out their batting cameos. That is also because United play deep, till virtually number 10 – even though Mohammed Sami at 11 can smack a few as well.
United have Faheem Ashraf as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. But Sami has often been the one to deliver in clutch moments for United, across the three PSL seasons.
At press time, Zalmi are 107 for no loss at the end of nine overs. Unless a bizarre collapse takes place in the next seven overs, or the Karachi Kings top order delivers their own rendition of power hitting that tops Zalmi’s, Peshawar look good for Sunday’s final.
