No margin for error as Peshawar take on Karachi

Defending champions know that nothing less than a win is required to stave off elimination

KARACHI: With Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United already through to the playoffs, the battle for the remaining two spots heats up as Karachi Kings take on defending champions Peshawar Zalmi at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Karachi Kings are currently in third — with four wins and three losses to their name in eight matches that include a rained-out game against Multan — and know a win will be enough to secure their place in the playoffs.

Peshawar, on the other hand, know that no margin for error exists for them. Sitting on just six points, anything but a win means the defending champions will fall at the first hurdle alongside already-eliminated Lahore Qalandars.

The pressure is fully on them but Zalmi owner Javed Afridi is confident his team will bounce back and make it to the playoffs. “Winning and losing is part of the game. Last year we were the top team and lifted the title but this time we have failed to perform that level. However, I still back my players and I am sure the team will bounce back,” he told The Express Tribune.

Afridi believes injuries have hampered his side. “We were struggled at the start due to the injuries that we had,” he said. “Dwayne Bravo, Shakib alHasan, Hasan Ali and Darren Sammy all suffered injuries at one point or the other so we have always had a few big names missing. Had we gotten off to a good start then the situation may have been very different right now and we wouldn’t have been fighting to merely survive in the tournament.”

Peshawar skipper Sammy is T20Is’ most successful captain with two World T20 titles and Afridi was full of praise for the man who led Zalmi to the title last year.

“The team is fully focused and the players are determined to do well under Sammy’s captaincy. The players have been working hard and will give their best,” he added.

Meanwhile, Karachi Kings would be hoping to win in order to put pressure on the top two and will be buoyed by the good news that skipper Imad Wasim will be available for the game after suffering a mild concussion in the previous game against Lahore Qalandars on Sunday while claiming a catch.

“We have been working on all three areas — batting, bowling and fielding. We don’t want to be weak in any area. Zalmi are also looking for a win so they will be up for it. We need to ensure we can match them,” said Karachi pacer Usman Khan Shinwari. “We committed a lot of mistakes in the match against Lahore Qalandars. Had any batsman scored a bit more or had any bowler bowled a little better, we would have won. Imad is back so we are hoping that we can win this under him.”

In the other match on the day, the two qualified teams — Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United — face off against each other in a bid to secure top spot. However, gaining top spot comes with no added benefit as the top two sides will take on each other in the first playoff, with the winner qualifying for the final and the loser playing the winner of the match between the teams that will third and fourth.