The finals of PSL 2020 would give the cricketing world a new PSL champion as both Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars would be playing their maiden PSL final. While the playoffs were delayed following the outbreak of the global pandemic, fans finally have some cricketing action back in their TV sets.
Here’s our Match Prediction for the PSL Final where Karachi Kings takes on Lahore Qalandars.
While Karachi entered the finals with a super-over showing against Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars have made their way to the final by defeating two teams in the playoffs (one in the eliminator and the other in the qualifier). Both sides have a point to prove as they chase their debut PSL trophy.
The experience of having players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir in their ranks would help Kings while Qalandars too have their fair share of battle-hardened pros in the form of Hafeez and Wiese. We certainly expect an intriguing battle between both sides.
MATCH PREVIEW:
Karachi Kings:
Karachi Kings will be banking on their star batsman Babar Azam to get them off to a good start in the finals. While the likes of Alex Hales, Imad Wasim, and Sherfane Rutherford could provide the finishing touches. The left-arm angle of Mohammad Amir and Wayne Parnell could be a key factor which Lahore would surely be wary of.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI:
Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Alex Hales, Imad Wasim (c), Chadwick Walton (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford, Wayne Parnell, Waqas Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Amir
Team Report:
Karachi Kings have played just a single game post the break and the players might feel a bit out of the touch before the finals. Karachi Kings will look forward to polishing their players enough to help them find their momentum in the grand-finale.
Lahore Qalandars:
Lahore Qalandars have played two games in the playoffs post the pandemic and have come up trumps on both occasions (winning against Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans). These successive victories have enabled them to reach their maiden PSL final. The team would want another complete performance from its members to notch a memorable triumph.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI:
Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal, Sohail Akhtar (c), Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk (wk), Samit Patel, David Wiese, Muhammad Faizan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain
Team Report:
Expect another professional performance from the Lahore Qalandars side. They have knocked out two teams heading into the finals and carry enough caliber to bag the first PSL trophy.
PITCH REPORT:
The National Stadium, Karachi has seen a plethora of high scoring contests and the pitch for the final doesn’t look any different. The outfield promises value for shots while the pitch would have something in it for both the batsman and the bowlers. Dew might be a factor but since the match is scheduled to begin at 8 pm (local time), the conditions would be fairly the same for both sides.
WEATHER CONDITION:
The weather is predicted to be pleasant tomorrow and we can expect a full game. Wind velocity is expected to be around 23 km/hour. The daytime temperature is going to hit 30° C and the temperature is going to drop to 16° C at night. Humidity is expected to hover around 32%
PROBABLE TOP PERFORMERS:
Karachi Kings:
Babar Azam
He is a batting sensation who keeps piling up the runs in stunning fashion. Karachi Kings would like their talisman to take the team over the line in the grand finale.
Lahore Qalandars:
Fakhar Zaman
If Zaman gets going then it would be difficult to stop the mayhem he may cause. He is not your typical left-hander, he can get quite unconventional when it comes to run-scoring and his efforts would dictate much of his team’s fortune on the big night.
HEAD TO HEAD:
1. Total Played–10
2. KRK Won– 6
3. LHQ Won– 4
4. No Result–0
BROADCAST DETAILS:
1. TV – Eurosport
2. Live Streaming – Pakistan Super League YouTube channel
3. Match Timings – 17th November 2020 at 08:30 PM IST (08:00 PM local time) (03:00 PM GMT)
PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:
Karachi Kings having played a super over to qualify for the finals would have that extra bit of momentum going into the finals as compared to Lahore Qalandars who weren’t tested much against Multan Sultans. A close contest nevertheless is expected in the finals.
