FANTASY
Follow UsIn Eliminator 1, Peshawar Zalmi take on Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The winner will take on the loser of the match between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans in Eliminator 2. The winner of Eliminator 2 will take on the winner of Qualifier 1 in the final on June 24.
Zalmi and Kings finished third and fourth in the PSL points table respectively, having picked up 10 points from five matches.
In PSL 2021, both teams have won one game apiece against each other, however, overall, it is Zalmi who have a 9-5 advantage. In the last five matches though, the Kings have a slender 3-2 lead.
PSL HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall: 14 | Peshawar: 9 wins | Karachi: 5 wins
Last five matches: Karachi 3 wins | Peshawar 2 wins
Suggested Teams
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms, we have come up with one team.
Ground details and combination
The Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi has become more pacer friendly as the tournament has progressed. The fast bowlers have picked up over 70 percent of the wickets and have done so at a better average (24.6) and strike-rate (17.8), compared to the spinners who have struck once every 20.7 deliveries, 27.1 runs apart. The only thing that works in the spinners’ favour is the fact that they have a better economy rate (7.8) when compared to the pacers (8.3). However, in fantasy cricket, economy rates matter very little.
Given that it is the pacers who rule the roost, a combination of seven batsmen, including a wicketkeeper and an all-rounder should be the way to go. Among the rest, you can incline towards three fast bowlers and one spinner.
Captain selection
Babar Azam has been in tremendous form and is the only batsman to score 500 runs in the tournament this season. He has scored his runs at an average of 71.57 and a strike-rate of 134.31. His recent form too has been encouraging, having scored three of his six fifties in the last five innings. Karachi have made it to the playoffs of the PSL every time and Babar has been one of the key reasons behind it and will be instrumental if Kings are to defend their crown.
X-Factors
After a couple of ducks, former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik turned it around with both bat and ball in the high-scoring match against Islamabad United, scoring 68 and also picking up a wicket. He is the third-highest run-getter in PSL. With his experience, he will once again be key for Zalmi as they look to take a huge step towards the final and potentially winning their second PSL title.
Fast bowler Mohammad Ilyas has been in excellent form of late having picked up five wickets in the last two matches. While he has been a tad expensive, that should not deter you from picking him I the team. He was the pick of the bowlers in the last game, finishing with figures of 3 for 39 in Karachi’s 14-run win over Quetta Gladiators.
Both of Kamran Akmal’s fifties in PSL 2021 have come in Abu Dhabi. He scored a counter-attacking 53 in the previous match against United, making that his second half-century from the last four matches. He also has 10 dismissals (nine catches, one stumping) to his name this season, which is an added bonus.
