Karachi Kings, just like they did against Quetta Gladiators, target to improve their sloppy record against Peshawar Zalmi when they take on the defending champions Peshawar Zalmi in the second match at Dubai stadium on Sunday.
Karachi Kings upset twice runners-up Quetta Gladiators by 19 runs in their opening match whom they had not beaten in all four matches of the first two editions of the league and skipper Imad Wasim hopes to keep the same momentum.
Karachi have lost four of the five games against Peshawar, two in the first PSL by three runs and five wickets and two in the PSL 2 by seven wickets and 24 runs. Their only win came over Zalmi last year, by nine runs.
Karachi managed 149-9 in their 20 overs which had looked below par but then bowled and fielded well to pull off the win.
Peshawar also recovered by beating Islamabad in their second match by 34 runs, restricting their opponents to 142-9 in 20 overs. Right arm pacer Umaid Asif took four wickets in his debut match after coming as cover up for Hasan Ali.
Peshawar also sweat over the fitness of their best bowler Hasan Ali who is nursing an ankle injury sustained on the New Zealand tour last month. But his cover up Umaid Asif impressed everyone and will continue to play until the fourth match.
Colin Ingram, Khurram Manzoor and Ravi Bopara gave fillip to Karachi batting but they will also hope Joe Denly and Babar Zaman also score at the top of the order. Shahid Afridi also failed as a batsman so karachi will hope the mercurial allrounder does his best against his former team.
Peshawar will also be happy that their best batsman of last year Kamran Akmal returned to form. After failing to score in the first game, Kamran notched a brilliant rapid half century in the second match against Islamabad.
Weather also holds the key as light drizzle continued since morning on Sunday.
The local crowds, mainly of Pathan expats, will also be under test who to back, their province’s team or their most popular player Shahid Afridi who has switched to Karachi after playing the first two editions with Zalmi.
