Karachi Kings face Peshawar Zalmi today

SHARJAH: Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi will square off against each other in Sharjah on Thursday in the ninth match of the HBL Pakistan Super League. Both the sides have played two matches each, winning one and losing one.

Kings outlasted Multan Sultans in their opening game in Dubai on Friday by a narrow seven-run margin before going down to arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in their second game as they failed to chase a modest 139-run target.

In contrast, Zalmi, champions of the 2017 HBL PSL, lost to Quetta Gladiators by six wickets before defeating Lahore by seven wickets to stage a comeback in the fourth edition of the league.

Karachi Kings will be weighing the option of drafting Australia’s fast bowler Aaron Summers who has the ability to bowl at 150kph on a regular basis, replacing the generous Sohail Khan who went for two for 57 in his four overs in the first match and 29 in the next, without taking a wicket.

Peshawar has a well-tuned pace attack, comprising of Hasan Ali, Wahab Riaz, Umaid Asif and Sameen Gul who can run through the best of batting line-ups with their wicket taking ability as they did against Lahore in Dubai. Hasan led the rout of Lahore for just 78 with four for 15 while Wahab fetched three for 17.

Peshawar will be sweating on the fitness of Misbah-ul-Haq who missed the last game against Lahore with a slight hamstring injury, as they would seek stability in the middle-order with dashing opener Kamran Akmal also failing in the Lahore game. Thursday’s fixture: Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi at Sharjah (match starts 9pm PST).