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LAHORE: Islamabad United’s opener Alex Hales will be rejoining the franchise for the knock-out stage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7.
As confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Hales will be rejoining two-time PSL champions for the playoffs.
Remember, England’s opening batsman left PSL 7 halfway due to personal reasons. United will take on Peshawar Zalmi in the first Eliminator of PSL 7 on February 24.
LAHORE: Shadab Khan recovered from his groin injury and resumed training before all-important playoffs in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7.
The all-rounder is most likely to lead Islamabad United in the playoffs stage as per the sources. Meanwhile, Zeeshan Zameer failed to recover from a side strain and will miss the knock-out stage.
Pacer Hasan Ali will have to wait for his medical reports before United’s management take decision regarding him.
England’s Will Jacks have completed isolation here and will be available for playoffs.
United are currently at number four position on the points table. They are most likely to meet Peshawar Zalmi in the first PSL 7 Eliminator.
LAHORE: Explosive English batter – Alex Hales, who was representing Islamabad United in the ongoing seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), has opted to pull out of the remainder of the tournament; citing personal reasons.
Hales, who represented United in the first seven matches of the marquee event will not be available for the remainder of the PSL 7. The former champions have not announced the replacement for Hales yet.
Furthermore, United’s another opening batter – Paul Stirling has already left the squad to perform his national duties, who has been replaced by Liam Dawson.
It is worth mentioning here that the United are currently in third place in the PSL 7 points table; playing seven matches and managing to win four out of them.
LAHORE: Third-ranked Islamabad United and fourth-ranked Quetta Gladiators will tie up in their first Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 7 contest here at Gaddafi Stadium today.
With better run-rate and points, United looks confident to take the charge over 2019 PSL champions. But, Gladiators’ skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed knows how to let his boys fight in the ground.
The Gladiators were dented with two ousters, Mohammad Nawaz (Injury) and Mohammad Hasnain (bowling action suspended). Whereas, United will be without their in-form opener Paul Stirling who left the remaining PSL 7 due to national commitments. United has a long batting line but Stirling’s departure may put them under a little pressure.
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Meanwhile, you can’t overlook the form of United’s skipper Shadab Khan who is currently the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 14 wickets in five matches. Also, he has so far scored 186 runs in five matches including two fifties.
On the other hand, Jason Roy’s arrival created a solid impact for Gladiators as he struck his maiden PSL century and handed a convincing victory to his team against Lahore Qalandars in the last match of Karachi-leg.
The two sides keep potential players on the paper and yet another good contest awaits PSL fans.
The stage is set for the top of the table clash of the seventh Pakistan Super League (PSL) with the topper – Multan Sultans taking on the second on the list, Islamabad United in the eighth match at National Stadium Karachi.
The Sultans have been in exceptional form as the defending champions remained unbeaten in all their three outings in this year’s PSL so far. The side will be relying heavily on the in-form opening batter and the tournament’s top-scorer – Shan Masood, who has already won two Players of the match awards.
The ICC T20I Player of the Year and Sultans’ captain – Mohammad Rizwan will also be a player to watch despite his rare failure against Quetta Gladiators in the last night’s match.
Furthermore, the Sultans will also be backing themselves heavily as the defending champions became the first team to defend a total in the PSL 7.
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The United, however, were also off to a flying start as the two-time champions crushed Peshawar Zalmi in their opening match. United openers may play an important role in the side’s triumph since Paul Stirling and Alex Hales are in red hot form.
Stirling, who scored a berserk 57 off only 25 balls against Zalmi, would be the player to watch for the 2016 and 2018 champions.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides have come face to face nine times, with the United emerging victorious five times, while Sultans are just one short with four. In the last five outings, however, United have won three while Sultans managed to win two.
EXPECTED SQUADS
MULTAN SULTANS: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, David Willey, Imran Khan Sr, Shahnawaz Dahani, Abbas Afridi
ISLAMABAD UNITED: Shadab Khan (c), Paul Stirling, Alex Hales, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mubasir Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim, Hassan Ali, Merchant de Lange
KARACHI: Skipper Babar Azam remained not out for 48 as Karachi Kings held drew against Islamabad United in a revised target practice match here on Tuesday.
While batting first, United posted 150-5 thanks to Waseem Jr’s quick 33 not out off 20 balls. Danish Aziz smashed 26 runs off 18 balls to help his team make a mark on the scoreboard.
For Kings, Mohamamd Nabi, Umaid Asi, Amir Yamin, Mohammad Ilyas and Imran Jr bagged a wicket each.
In reply, Kings were given a revised target which was followed by a draw. Kings scored 164 for the loss of one wicket in 20 overs. Babar was retired after scoring 48 runs followed by Sharjeel Khan’s 46 off 41.
Joe Clarke made 31 off 21 and Nabi finished off well with 15 off seven deliveries.
LAHORE: All six franchises have completed their 18-member squad for upcoming seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The league’s new edition will be held between January 27 to February 27 in Karachi and Lahore.
Here’re all six squads for PSL 7
KARACHI KINGS: Babar Azam, Imad Wasim, Chris Jordan, Lewis Gregory, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Amir, Joe Clarke, Sharjeel Khan, Aamer Yamin, Umaid Asif, Tom Abell, Rohail Nazir, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Ilyas, Faisal Akram, Qasim Akram, Talha Ahsan, Romario Shepherd
LAHORE QALADARS: Fakhar Zaman, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdullah Shafique, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Dean Foxcroft, Sohail Akhtar, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ahmed Daniyal, Zaman Khan, Maaz Khan, Samit Patel, Syed Faridoun Mehmood
ISLAMABAD UNITED: Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Hasan Ali, Marchant De Lange, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Akhlaq, Reece Topley, Danish Aziz, Zafar Gohar, Paul Stirling, Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ather Mehmood
PESHAWAR ZALMI: Hazratullah Zazai, Liam Livingstone, Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik, Sherfane Rutherford, Haider Ali, Usman Qadir, Saqib Mahmood, Hussain Talat, Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal, Sameen Gul, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sirajuddin, Mohammad Amir Khan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Haris
QUETTA GLADIATORS: Jason Roy, James Vince, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, James Faulkner, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Ben Duckett, Khurram Shehzad, Naveenul Haq, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mohammad Ashar Qureshi, Noor Ahmad, Ahsan Ali
MULTAN SULTANS: Tim David, Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Odean Smith, Sohaib Maqsood, Imran Tahir, Rumman Raees, Asif Afridi, Anwar Ali, Rovman Powell, Imran Khan Sr, Abbas Afridi, Aamer Azmat, Blessing Muzarabani, Ihsanullah
ABU DHABI: Islamabad United’s fast bowler Hasan Ali will miss the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 6 matches due to family reasons.
The franchise, in a statement, confirmed that Hasan will be leaving for Pakistan to join his family.
“Unfortunately, I have to pull myself out from PSL 6 due to some personal reasons. Some things are more important than cricket and nothing is more important than family,” Hasan said in a released statement by United.
It must be noted here that Hasan and his wife Samia were recently blessed with a baby girl. Hasan was with the national team in South Africa on the birth of his first child.
Abu Dhabi: Islamabad United’s all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been ruled out of action after suffering from an injury in his left hand.
The 27-year-old Faheem received a blow during last night’s match vs Lahore Qalandars. He got five stitches due to split webbing.
🚨Injury Update:
.@iFaheemAshraf suffered a left hand injury (split webbing) that needed stitches in last night’s match vs Lahore Qalandars. The all rounder may miss game-time in the upcoming matches. We wish him the best of luck in his recovery.
PR link:https://t.co/EwvbwABAFU pic.twitter.com/sMWIkcEWJ0
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) June 10, 2021
“Faheem had already bowled his first two overs when he suffered the injury, and he immediately left the field. The all-rounder had suffered a split between his thumb and index finger and five stitches have been applied to the deep cut. The injury means he is likely to miss game time in Islamabad United’s forthcoming matches,” United said in a press release.
It must be noted that United lost to Qalandars by five wickets yesterday.
After a demoralizing postponement due to COVID-19 in March, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season is back from today at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Fourteen matches were played at the National Stadium in Karachi. The four top teams have all won three matches each while Multan Sultans, Quetta Gladiators have bagged one. The onus is now going to be on adapting quickly to the conditions.
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars will go head to head at 9.00 PM. Islamabad are at the third position while Lahore are a position lower at fourth due to a slight different in the net run rate. The winner will go at the top with four wins and eight points.
Lahore Qalandars will look to bank on their promising bowling line-up. Shaheen Afridi, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain, and Ahmed Daniyal are going to be the strike bowlers while Mohammad Hafeez, Seekuge Prasanna, James Faulkner supporting the above-mentioned.
Qalandars batting were also on the show during Karachi leg. The highest run-getters for them are Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman with more than 180 runs each.
Australia’s duo of Ben Dunk and Calum Callum Ferguson will bring their heavy T20 experience while Singapore’s Tim David will look to replicate his BBL’s performance lower down the order.
Islamabad United played impressively in Karachi but they have been hit by the absence of their overseas players. Alex Hales and Phil Salt are not a part of the squad and they have replaced by Usman Khawaja and Colin Munro, the likely openers.
United will heavily rely on local stars to do well. The roti-gang of Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Asif Ali will look to take United’s hopes while Iftikhar Ahmed, Hussain Talat and Zafar Gohar would once again claim their stake.
The bowling attack for Islamabad United is unchanged and so this can be seen as an area of strength. Hasan Ali is in the middle of a fantastic period of his career and is the bowler to watch out for. With Fawad Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Musa also in the squad, Islamabad United has a lot of options to work with.
The conditions in Abu Dhabi are going to be very hot and temperatures can hit 40 degrees celsius as well. With start times later in the evening, it is hoped that the players are going to be able to adapt to the tough conditions.
The pitch must be flat and good for batting. The outfield is of a decent size and so the spinners play a big role. A score of around 170 should be seen as par batting first.
Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja, Shadab Khan (C), Hussain Talat, Rohail Nazir (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Zafar Gohar, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Fawad Ahmed
Lahore Qalandars:
Sohail Akhtar (C), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Callum Ferguson, Ben Dunk (WK), Tim David, Shaheen Afridi, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain, Ahmed Daniyal
