Karachi Kings vs Lahore Qalandars, PSL T20 2021, Today Match Prediction 17 June 2021

krk vs lhq Match Prediction & Analysis

We are in to the last stage of the league games in Pakistan Super League 2021 and the competition has intensified. In a very important game Karachi Kings would face the Lahore Qalandars. The Karachi Kings lost their last game against Peshawar Zalmi and need to win this one by a huge margin to keep their hopes alive for a playoff berth. The Qalandars too come into this game after losing to the Quetta Gladiators. 

Karachi Kings have had a bad season with the bat so far and it has only been Babar Azam who has been winning games for them. Their shaky batting line-up has struggled in most games. In an earlier game between the two sides the Qalandars had won convincingly. It will be interesting to see if Karachi Kings is able to turn tables in this game. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Karachi Kings Preview

Imad Wasim would be terribly upset with the performance of his batsmen in the last game. They could only make 108 runs losing the game by 6 wickets against the Peshawar Zalmi. They are now sitting in the fifth place on the points table and need to win this game by a big margin to keep their hopes alive for a berth in the playoffs.

The side is over dependent on Babar Azam who has played well in the tournament and along with Sharjeel Khan, he will need to provide a good start. Martin Guptill has failed in all the games and the side would expect a better show from him. Chadwick Walton and Najibullah Zadran need to build partnerships here in this game and create a platform for Imad Wasim and Abbas Ali to do the big hitting towards the end. 

Their bowlers didn’t have much to play with in the last game but despite this they didn’t put up much of challenge. Mohammad Amir will have to play a lead role here with the new ball. Aamer Yamin needs to provide him with good support. The side would also expect tight bowling from Imad Wasim, Noor Ahmed and Waqas Maqsood in this game.

Karachi Kings Predicted Playing XI:

Imad Wasim (c), Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Martin Guptill, Najibullah Zadran, Chadwick Walton (wk), Thisara Perera, Abbas Afridi, Waqas Maqsood, Mohammad Amir, Arshad Iqbal

Karachi Kings Actual Playing XI:

Chadwick Walton, Sharjeel Khan, Abbas Afridi, Danish Aziz, SI Wasim, Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir, Martin Guptill, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Ilyas, Najibullah Zadran

Lahore Qalandars Preview

Sohail Akhtar’s side had their opportunities in the last game but they threw them away to lose by 18 runs against the Quetta Gladiators. The side cannot afford any more losses and needs to win this one to earn a berth in the playoffs. They had defeated the Karachi Kings earlier and the side would be look to repeat the same show here. 

Sohail Akhtar and Fakhar Zaman would have to offer the side with a good start being the most experienced players. Their middle order hasn’t been in the best of form and the side would need the likes of Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk and Zeeshan Ashraf to do well in this game. In Rashid Khan and Tim David they have batsmen capable of scoring quick runs in the game. 

James Faulkner and Shaheen Afridi did well in the last game with the new ball and they will have a very important role to play here. Rashid Khan has had an impressive tournament and he would be expected to contain the batting in this game. Hafeez and Haris Rauf would have to play the supporting act well as Karachi has good hitters of the ball.

Lahore Qalandars Predicted Playing XI:

Sohail Akhtar (c), Fakhar Zaman, Zeeshan Ashraf, Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk (wk), Tim David, James Faulkner, Rashid Khan, Ahmed Daniyal, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

Lahore Qalandars Actual Playing XI:

Mohammad Hafeez, Salman Ali Agha, Sohail Akhtar, Ahmed Daniel, James Faulkner, Fakhar Zaman, Tim David, Haris Rauf, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Ben Dunk

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies would be clear over Abu Dhabi on June 17 and we would see the typical hot and humid conditions. The wicket here has been flat and it has been a big challenge for the bowlers at this venue. The side that bats first in this game would have to set a target in excess of 180 runs to feel safe.

Venue Details

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi is a big sized ground but the fast outfield aids the batsmen who play their strokes. It is a hard venue for the fast bowlers with nothing on the surface for them. Spinners have enjoyed good bargain at this venue as the ball turns sharply here.

Toss: To Bowl

We have seen a run feast in Abu Dhabi and teams have found it difficult to post a challenging total as big scores have been chased here with ease.  At the toss the captains aren’t likely to have too much of doubt and opt to bowl first.