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Playoffs: Will it be Karachi or Lahore?

By Web Desk
February 26, 2017

DUBAI: The outcome of today’s match between Islamabad United and Karachi Kings will decide as to who would be the fourth team to play in the next leg of the Pakistan Super League 2017.

Although, Islamabad United have qualified for the playoffs but their encounter with Karachi Kings on Sunday is important for Lahore Qalandars too.

The Net Run Rate (NRR) after the match between Karachi Kings and Islamabad United on Sunday will be crucial for both teams as far as their qualification is concerned.

If Islamabad United win by a margin of 15 runs or chase the target in 18.2 overs, then Karachi Kings will be out of the competition and Lahore Qalandars will qualify for the playoffs.

This calculation will be considered if there is a total of 150 in the first innings in the match on Sunday. However, it would be marginally different if the score is180 or 200.

If the match is washed out tonight, Lahore Qalandars's last hopes of making it to the playoffs will be shattered and Karachi Kings will be through to the playoffs.

Each of the five competing sides have participated in a double-leg round-robin league thereby playing eight games each, the last of which will take place on Sunday.

Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators have already confirmed their berth in the PSL playoffs.The final game will decide the fate of Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings in the tournament.

In the playoffs round, the first-ranked team at the end of the league stage will take on the second-placed side in the first playoff.

Peshawar Zalmi are currently at the top of the table with 9 points and NRR of +0.309.They are closely followed by Quetta Gladiators with 9 points and NRR of +0.166, and Islamabad United at third place with 8 points and NRR of -0.113.

Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars both have 6 points each — Kings with a -0.150 NRR and Qalandars with a -0.223 NRR.

Peshawar Zalmi have already secured their place in the first playoff. The match on Sunday will decide whether Islamabad United or Quetta Gladiators become the second-ranked team.

The second playoff will see the third and the fourth-ranked side taking on each other before the losing team from the first playoff faces the winning team from the second playoff.