FANTASY
Follow UsLahore Qalandars will take on Peshawar Zalmi in Match 17 of the 2021 Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Thursday (June 10). Both teams have had pretty similar campaigns in the first leg of the tournament. Lahore have already made a positive start in the second leg, beating Islamabad United in Match 15 yesterday (June 9). They are at the top of the table with 8 points. Another win will take them to 10, further beyond everyone else’s reach. A win for Peshawar will take them top, though a lot rests on the result of Match 16.
The two teams have met each other 12 times and Peshawar have a clear lead. But Lahore have come to their own in the last five encounters between these sides.
PSL HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall - 12 | Lahore - 4 Wins | Peshawar - 8 Wins
Last 5 Matches | Lahore - 3 Wins | Peshawar - 2 Wins
Ground Details and Team Combination
Looking into the ground details on the numbers’ front might be a tricky exercise given the tournament is being held in the off-season in Abu Dhabi. But on the basis of what we say in the first game of the UAE leg - Match 15 - we can conclude that it is not going to be a high-scoring game.
The pitch is slow and it won’t be easy for the batsmen to tee off straight away, which provides wicket-taking opportunities for the bowlers. Also, there might be swing on offer early in the innings. One thing which can work in favour of the batsmen is dew. Ending up on the losing side on the previous night, Islamabad United skipper, Shadab Khan mentioned dew can play a factor in the rest of the tournament. This game starts at 10 PM local which makes dew more prominent.
An amalgamation of all these factors highlights all-rounders as the most important facet of the initial matches. Bowlers who bowl at the start and at the death are the key as well.
Suggested Team
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.
Captain Selection
Rashid Khan began the second half of PSL 2021 in the grandest style possible. He strangled the opposition’s middle-order with a spell of 4-0-9-1. Later, he gave the finishing touch to the run-chase, scoring an unbeaten 15 off five balls. Among the 21 bowlers who have taken over 40 T20 wickets since 2020, he has the best economy rate - 6.3. His tally of 81 wickets is also the highest in this time period. He will also relish his chances with the bat against the pace-heavy bowling attack of Peshawar.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts Rashid could pick 1-2 wickets in this match
X-Factors
Fabian Allen is the kind of X-factor every T20 team would like to possess. In a similar vein, he can boost your fantasy stars as well with his all-round expertise. His left-arm orthodox spin is quite perfect for the slow tracks of Abu Dhabi and he is a basher with the bat. Having acquired Allen as a replacement player, Peshawar would be itching to use his all-round abilities and so should be you in your fantasy XI.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts Allen could score 9-13 runs and pick 0-1 wickets in this match
At 40, Mohammad Hafeez has hit the peak of his career in T20 cricket. His total of 1,251 runs is the highest amongst non-openers in T20s since 2020. The combination of an average in the 40s (44.7) and strike-rate as high as 142.8 is a killer blow to any bowling line-up. Hafeez looked in decent touch during his 25-ball 29 against Islamabad United. He may also contribute with the ball, making him a precious asset of any fantasy side.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts Hafeez could score 19-29 runs and pick 0-1 wickets in this match
David Miller will be the driving force in Peshawar’s middle-order. It has been a good year for Miller in T20 cricket. He has scored 376 runs, averaging 53,7 at a strike-rate of 137.2. Adding international experience to Peshawar’s middle-order, we expect Miller to bat at number 4 and make an impact for them.
Our Criclytics player projection predicts Miller could score 6-8 runs in this match
