It is time for the Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings to step up their games if they are to have any chance of climbing up the PSL table. Lahore and Karachi, who are set for an important clash against one another in Sharjah on Friday, have been in poor form in the Pakistan Super League, with both teams managing just one win each so far.
Karachi started their PSL journey in a terrific manner, defeating Lahore in PSL Match 2 by seven wickets. However, that has been their only victory, as they have struggled in the competition since then. Luck has also not favoured the Karachi Kings, even when they have played some decent cricket.
Lendl Simmons, their opener, played an important role in their only victory, which was incidentally against Lahore, scoring 62 runs. Apart from Simmons, Shakib-Al-Hasan and Mohammad Amir also played an important hand in the win. These three will look to take the confidence from that win ahead of the clash against the same opposition.
However, Simmons has failed to come up with solid knocks in the PSL in his last three outings, as a result of which the middle order are coming under immense pressure.
Karachi need to come up with an all-round performance to defeat Lahore, who are the only team so far to defeat the table toppers, Quetta Gladiators.
A comprehensive victory against Quetta by 63 runs just establishes the fact that Lahore are a quality side, but they have lacked consistency. If they can come up with a similar performance against Karachi in Sharjah, an interesting battle is on the cards.
It remains to be seen if their hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle will feature against Karachi. The left-hander, who has been in dismal form in the PSL, has only scored six runs so far and missed the last two games because of illness. Gayle, if picked, could play an important role for Lahore.
Apart from Gayle, Azhar Ali, Umar Ukmal and Dwayne Bravo need to shoulder the responsibility with the bat, while bowlers such as Ehsan Adil and Kevon Cooper need to be at their best with the white cherry.
Teams: Lahore Qalandars:Chris Gayle, Yasir Shah, Sohaib Maqsood, Mustafizur Rahman, Kevon Cooper, Cameron Delport, Zafar Gohar, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Rizwan Zia ul Haq, Naved Yasin, Adnan Rasool Hammad Azam, , Dwayne Bravo, Umar Akmal, Zohaib Khan, Ehsan Adil, Abdul Razzaq, Mukhtar Ahmed, Imran Butt.
Karachi Kings:Shoaib Malik, Shakib Al Hasan, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Ravi Bopara, Lendl Simmons, , Nauman Anwar, Sohail Khan, Mir Hamza, Saifullah Bangash Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Amir, Bilawal Bhatti, James Vince, Iftikhar Ahmed Usama Mir, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shahzaib Hasan, Fawad Alam.
Where to watch live
Game 12 of the Pakistan Super League â€" Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings -- is scheduled for 8pm local time (9:30 p.m. IST, 9 p.m. PKT, 4 p.m. GMT) start. Unfortunately there is no live TV coverage in India.
Viewers in Pakistan can watch the -- Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings live on PTV Sports, Ten Sports and Geo Super with the live streaming online option on PTV Sports Live.
OSN will broadcast the Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings in UAE,with the match can be live streamed on OSN Play.
UK viewers can watch the Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings on Prime TV with live streaming on Prime TV Online.
Viewers from around the world can also live stream the match on Cricketgateway.
