Get ready for the next game of the PSL 6 season with The Cricketer's match preview...
Second-placed Islamabad United take on third-placed Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.
The game is scheduled for 7pm PST (2pm GMT) on Thursday, March 4, 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.
Islamabad and Lahore have identical records heading into their fifth match of the season – three wins and one defeat – and are separated only by net run rate.
Islamabad defeated Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings in their opening two fixtures before succumbing to a six-wicket defeat against Peshawar Zalmi. They returned to winning ways against Quetta Gladiators on Tuesday (March 2) and are unbeaten when batting second.
Likewise, Lahore started the season strongly with successful chases against Peshawar and Quetta before coming unstuck against Multan Sultans when batting first. Most recently, Qalandars chased down 186 to defeat Karachi by six wickets.
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Paul Stirling was the standout batsman for Islamabad against Quetta. The Ireland international, brought in as a late replacement for Chris Jordan, scored 56 off 33 deliveries to set his side up for victory. After a disappointing debut, he is showing signs of the form which saw him lead the scoring charts (209 runs) for Team Abu Dhabi in the Abu Dhabi T10.
As ever, Alex Hales, ranked 21st in the T20 Player Index, is electric in the games shortest format while in Faheem Ashraf they have a bowler who recorded astonishing figures of 3-11 from his four overs against Gladiators.
Hoping to eclipse Ashraf with the ball is Lahore bowler Shaheen Afridi. The 20-year old is the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker, including two three-wicket hauls, and already has two player of the match awards from his first four matches.
With the bat, top order duo Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez have a combined 370 runs in PSL 6, including four half-centuries, 32 fours and 19 sixes. Expect boundaries.
Islamabad’s Fawad Ahmed is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 prior to his side’s match against Quetta Gladiators. However, the rest of the squad are expected to be fit for Thursday’s match and the starting XI will likely go unchanged following their victory on Tuesday.
Qalandars are expected to be full strength with Sandeep Lamichhane, signed as a replacement for Rashid Khan, a possible debutant.
Lahore's Fakhar Zaman (L) and United's Paul Stirling (R) are in form with the bat
Yes, PSL 6 matches are operating at 20 per cent capacity in 2021, 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.
Richard Illingworth and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires)
Ahsan Raza (third umpire)
Imran Jawed (fourth umpire)
Ali Naqvi (match referee)
Full PSL umpire appointments - click here
Given how closely matched these sides are, this prediction has scarcely an iota of certainty about it. However, with two of the top 10 run-scorers (Zaman and Hafeez) and a wicket-taker like Afridi, Lahore may edge this encounter.
The bookies believe this game is too close to call, offering odds of 10/11 for both Lahore to win and Islamabad 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.
Lahore Qalandars: Ben Dunk, David Wiese, Dilbar Hussain, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hafeez, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sohail Akhtar, Joe Denly, Samit Patel, Tom Abell, Zeeshan Ashraf, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Faizan, Maaz Khan, Zaid Alam, Ahmed Danyal, Sandeep Lamichhane
Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Asif Ali, Fawad Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Zafar Gohar, Hassan Ali, Paul Stirling, Lewis Gregory, Phil Salt, Rohail Nazir, Ali Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Ahmed Saifi Abdullah, Zeeshan Zameer
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