Get ready for match 13 in the 2021 Pakistan Super League with The Cricketer's match preview...
Third-place Karachi Kings host top of the table Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League.
The game begins at 2pm PST (9am GMT) on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
This game will take place in the National Stadium in Karachi, where all PSL 6 matches are being staged until March 7. At that point, the tournament moves to Lahore.
This is due to Covid-19 protocols being implemented by tournament organisers.
Peshawar Zalmi are very much the form side with the 2017 champions currently sitting top of the table after three wins from four.
Losing their opening fixture against Lahore Qalandars by four wickets after setting just 141 to win, Zalmi have chased down scores of 194 and 199 against Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators, respectively.
Wahab Riaz’s team most recently swept aside Islamabad United, chasing down 119 with almost three overs to spare to record a six-wicket victory.
Karachi Kings have had an inconsistent start to the season with two losses and two wins. However, they have also shown their batting prowess while chasing, picking up their second win of the season in match nine by knocking off 198 versus Multan Sultans.
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This game will see a face-off between two of the tournament’s in-form players. Karachi King’s Sharjeel Khan has been in sparkling form and is the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, with 200 runs at an average of 50. This has included a score of 105 from just 59 balls versus Islamabad United, the only century in PSL 6 to date.
He will be taking on the highest-wicket taker in the tournament, Englishman Saqib Mahmood. The Lancashire fast-medium bowler has taken 10 wickets at a staggering average of just 10.4.
Peshawar Zalmi should go unchanged after a run of three straight wins but will be wary of the departure of Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the coming week. The spinner has been called up by Afghanistan for their three-match T20 series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to start on March 17.
Karachi Kings may look to switch things up to try and keep up some winning momentum, with the form of batsman Colin Ingram (ranked 134th in the T20 Player Index) of particular concern. The South African has scored 0, 6 and 17 not out in PSL 6 and his position may be the one captain Imad Wasim will look to change.
Yes, PSL 6 matches are now operating at 50 per cent capacity after numbers were increased, with stringent Covid-19 precautionary measures in place. Fans will have to wear a mask in the stands, and groups may only consist of members of one household, for example.
Plans for the matches in Lahore, where the tournament moves in March, have yet to be confirmed. Organisers hope for the play-offs to be played in front of full capacity crowds.
Aleem Dar and Imran Jawed (on-field umpires)
Zameer Haider (third umpire)
Shozab Raza (fourth umpire)
Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee)
Full PSL umpire appointments - click here
Peshawar’s amazing start to the season means they are favourites for this one but with a top order - including batsmen Babar Azam and Joe Clarke - in good form, Karachi have a good chance. With both teams acing their chases this season but looking shaky whilst batting first, the toss may decide who comes out on top.
Saqib Mahmood (R) celebrates dismissing Alex Hales against Islamabad United in February
The bookies are also backing Zalmi to edge a tight match, offering odds of 10/11. Karachi Kings are at 4/5 to win.
PSL TEAM GUIDES
Sky Sports will broadcast the tournament in the UK.
In Pakistan, the competition will be available on PTV Sports.
Sony Pictures Network have the rights in India.
Sony Pictures Network will also provide coverage throughout South Asia, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Sky Sport will televise the tournament in New Zealand while SuperSport hold the rights in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region.
Willow TV have all the action for viewers in the United States and Canada. In the Caribbean, PSL 6 will be available on Flow Sports.
Streaming service Tapmad TV have the rights in Australia, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and the rest of the world with coverage available online and via the app.
Karachi Kings: Amir Yamin, Arshad Iqbal, Babar Azam, Colin Ingram, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Sharjeel Khan, Waqas Maqsood, Mohammad Nabi, Dan Christian, Chadwick Walton, Joe Clarke, Noor Ahmad, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Ilyas, Zeeshan Malik, Qasim Akram
Peshawar Zalmi: Haider Ali, Kamran Akmal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, David Miller, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ravi Bopara, Sherfane Rutherford, Amad Butt, Umaid Asif, Saqib Mahmood, Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan, Ibrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir Khan
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