PSL Match 14: IU vs KK Preview

The 14th match of the PSL 2022 will be played between the Karachi Kings and Islamabad United at Karachi. 

Karachi Kings are at the bottom of the points table with 4 defeats in 4 games. They have been horribly out of form and are looking clueless as a team. Their batters have been below average while the bowling is not giving any confidence either. Babar Azam is their best batter but he has been batting at a very low strike rate initially in his innings and hasn’t got a lot of support from the others either. Babar will need to be consistent and others need to support him well if Karachi are to turn things around in PSL 2022. 

Islamabad United are one of the strongest teams in the tournament and have been in good form as well. They are placed in the 3rd position with a couple of wins and a couple of defeats in 4 matches. They have been very unfortunate as well, losing two very close games. They have big players like Alex Hales, Paul Striling, Shadab Khan, Colin Munro, etc and everyone is in great form. Shadab has been excellent with both bat and ball and is leading them from the front. He picked 5 wickets in the last match and scored 52 runs as well.  Islamabad are the clear cut favorites to win this game.

Probable Playing XI

Karachi Kings: Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam (c), Joe Clarke (wk), Sahibzada Farhaan, Mohammad Nabi, Lewis Gregory, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Taha, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Ilyas

Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Paul Stirling, Colin Munro, Mubasir Khan, Azam Khan (wk), Shadab Khan (c), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali, Waqas Maqsood

Pitch Report

This will be an absolute belter of a wicket at Karachi. Batters will dominate the game in both the innings. The pitch is flat with short boundaries. Teams will look to chase as dew is a factor in the second innings. The average first innings score here is 189 runs. Chasing teams have won 29 matches out of 44 played at this venue.
 

Head to Head
Overall: Islamabad lead 10-6
In last 5 games: Islamabad lead 3-2

Match Ups

Islamabad United
Munro vs Imad: 78 runs off 72 balls for 3 dismissals
Hales vs Imad: 49 runs off 28 balls for 1 dismissal
Munro vs Nabi: 53 runs off 35 balls for 1 dismissal
Stirling vs Nabi: 68 runs off 54 balls for 4 dismissals
Munro vs U Asif: 23 runs off 8 balls for no dismissals
Asif vs U Asif: 55 runs off 24 balls for 3 dismissals

Karachi Kings
Babar vs Hasan Ali: 86 runs off 86 balls for 3 dismissals
Sharjeel vs Hasan Ali: 67 runs off 41 balls for 4 dismissals
Babar vs Shadab: 78 runs off 70 balls for 2 dismissals
Sharjeel vs Shadab: 29 runs off 7 balls for no dismissals
 

Key Players

Karachi Kings

●    Babar Azam: Skipper Babar Azam is the best batter from his team. He is amongst the best in the world as well. Babar scored 90* runs in the last game but failed to take his team over the line. He will be eyeing a similar performance in this game as well. 

●    Sharjeel Khan: Sharjeel Khan has scored113 runs in 4 matches at an  average of 28.25 and striking at 141. He is an attacking opener and will look to exploit the field restrictions. 

●    Ian Cockbain: Cockbain was in great form in the BBL and has continued the same in the PSL as well. He scored 31 runs in the last game. 

Islamabad United

●    Shadab Khan: Shadab Khan is in exceptional form in this year's PSL. He scored 52 runs and picked 5 wickets in the last match. He has 152 runs at an average of 50.66 and his strike rate is 183. Shadab is the highest wicket-taker at the moment with 10 wickets. 

●    Colin Munro: Munro has scored two half-centuries in the two matches he has played so far. He scored 72* in the first game and 60 in the last. 

●     Paul Stirling: Stirling is averaging 37 and striking at a whopping 202.7 in PSL 2022. He scored the joint-fastest 50 in PSL history (18 balls) in the first game he played this season. Stirling can change the course of the game in the first 6 overs itself if he stays that long.

Fantasy Prediction

 Captain and Vice-Captain picks:

●    Shadab Khan
●    Alex Hales
●    Paul Stirling (Risky)
●    Hasan Ali (Risky, bowling 1st)
●    Babar Azam (Chasing)

Dream 11

Disclaimer:  This team is based on the writer's understanding of the game and does not guarantee to win in fantasy cricket. Users are advised to create their own teams with the information provided.