Peshawar Zalmi v Islamabad United: Match preview, team news, odds, TV information, prediction

Get ready for the next game of the PSL 6 season with The Cricketer's match preview...

PSL 2021: Players to watch

PSL 2021: Things to watch

What’s the match?

Saturday’s evening fixture sees Peshawar Zalmi take on Islamabad United, one of the two unbeaten sides in PSL 6 (after two matches).

When is it taking place?

The game is scheduled for 7pm PST (2pm GMT) on Saturday, February 27, 2021.

Where is the match being played?

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.

Who’s got the form?

Islamabad United are unbeaten in PSL 6, defeating last season’s table-toppers Multan Sultans and 2020 champions Karachi Kings in their opening two fixtures. United chased down 196 to defeat Kings on Wednesday with three players (Alex Hales, Iftikhar Ahmed and Hussain Talat) scoring 40+ runs.

Peshawar, meanwhile, lost their opening fixture against Lahore Qalandars before bouncing back to defeat Multan Sultans on Tuesday. Zalmi face bottom of the table Quetta Gladiators on Friday so should be confident of heading into Saturday’s clash with two wins under their belt. 

Who to watch?

Haider Ali made an impressive cameo appearance for Peshawar against Sultans. The 20-year old has struggled for form of late, scoring just 46 runs in three matches for Pakistan against South Africa and being dismissed for a duck in his PSL opener. However, playing lower down the order against Sultans, Ali struck an unbeaten 24 runs from eight deliveries to help his side chase down 193 and get his mojo back.

Englishman Tom Kohler-Cadmore is also in fine form with the bat, scoring a half-century against Multan in his first appearance of the season, while Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman is always box office.

For Islamabad, meanwhile, look no further than Alex Hales. The Big Bash golden bat, ranked 21st on the T20 Player Index,  is winding himself up for a big score after starting PSL 6 with scores of 29 (20 balls) and 46 (21). If he can survive the overs from Mujeeb and Saqib Mahmood, he’ll fancy himself against the Peshawar bowling attack.

Any major team news?

Both teams are expected to be full strength.

^{Peshawar's Haider Ali (L) and Shoaib Malik celebrating beating Multan Sultans on Tuesday}

Are fans allowed in?

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.

Who are the umpires?

Shozab Raza and Asif Yaqoob

Imran Jawed (third umpire)

Zameer Haider (fourth umpire)

Ali Naqvi (match referee)

Full PSL umpire appointments - click here

What’s the prediction?

A tricky one to call after both sides impressively chased down 190+ targets in mid-week but having beaten the reigning champions on Wednesday, Islamabad will probably edge this encounter.  

What are the odds?

Odds will appear when available.

PSL TEAM GUIDES

Islamabad United

Karachi Kings

Lahore Qalandars

Multan Sultans

Peshawar Zalmi

Quetta Gladiators

Where can I watch the game?

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.

What are the squads?

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

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

PSL 2021 squads

PSL 2021 fixtures

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