PSL 6 Opener: Islamabad vs Lahore Qalandars

The second leg of PSL 6 starts today at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The opening will be between two teams, Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United – who are locked at 6 points in the table.

Interestingly, both teams have won three of their four games, with a solitary loss.

A lot is riding on this match as a win will take either team to the top of the table.

Venue stats

Venue – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Time – 9:30 PM IST

In the 22 matches of IPL 2020 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, the average first innings score is 162.

The chasing teams have done better than the teams batting first, with 13 wins, 8 losses and 1 Tie.

Generally, it has been a good batting track with high scoring encounters.

Only once has a team been dismissed for less than 100.

Team news

For Lahore, pacer Shaheen Afridi has been in great form and is capable of winning a match single-handedly.

On the batting front, Mohammad Hafeez and Fakhar Zaman have been batting fluently.

Zaman has scored 189 runs in PSL 2021 at an average of 63.00, with a strike rate of 143.18.

The addition of James Faulkner and Rashid Khan will be a big morale-booster as both are proven big-impact match-winners.

Faulkner is in great nick, having scalped eight wickets in BBL10 and is also an explosive bat.

For Islamabad, Usman Khawaja is a welcome addition.

Colin Munro can be a potential match-winner on his day.

Munro scored 443 runs in BBL10 at an average of 31.64, with a strike rate of 128.03. He is a T20 specialist opener and Islamabad will be leaning heavily on him.

Hasan Ali, Faheem, and Wasim are a potent attack.

Faheem, in particular, is a player with the X factor as he can contribute with the bat, as well. In PSL 2021, he has scored 49 runs and bagged four wickets.

Ali has taken six wickets in the tournament at an economy of 5.56, whereas Wasim has four.

Lahore Qalandars Predicted XI

Fakhar Zaman, Sohail Akhtar, Callum Ferguson, Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk, Zeeshan Ashraf, James Faulkner, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Ahmed Daniyal.

Islamabad United Predicted XI

Brandon King, Colin Munro, Usman Khawaja, Rohail Nazir, Shadab Khan, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Fawad Ahmed.

History

Islamabad has dominated Lahore having won 8 of their past 10 encounters.