KAR vs ISL PSL Prediction 16 Feb 2023

The Pakistan Cricket League (PSL) is fast approaching its eighth edition, and the league has gotten off to an exciting start with the first two games being closely contested and providing fans with plenty to celebrate. Despite being involved in a thrilling match, Karachi Kings ultimately suffered defeat, while Islamabad United will be eager to get their campaign off to a strong start.

• Islamabad United finished fourth last season and this will be their first game in this tournament.
• The Karachi Kings fell agonizingly short in their last game against Peshawar Zalmi by just 2 runs in a big run chase.
• The last time these two sides faced off, Islamabad United won by 1 run in a tight contest.

KAR vs ISL – PSL – Venue Details

Venue: National Stadium, Karachi

Date: 16th February 2023

Time: 19:00 (local), 19:30 (IST)

KAR vs ISL – PSL – Team Previews

Islamabad United

Islamabad United are set to begin their PSL campaign, and Shadab Khan’s side will be eager to get off to a good start. United are one of the most successful franchises in the PSL, having won the trophy twice in 2016 and 2018.

Their batting line-up is one of the strongest in the league, with Alex Hales and Paul Stirling opening the innings. Other notable players in the batting line-up include Azam Khan, Rassie van der Dussen, and Asif Ali, as well as up-and-coming talent Hassan Nawaz. The team also boasts a strong spin attack with Zafar Gohar, Moeen Ali, and Mubasir Khan.

Islamabad is known for its aggressive batting approach, and if Stirling and Colin Munro get going early, they are capable of posting a big total. Karachi Kings will need to be disciplined in the powerplay to contain them. Islamabad United will be without opener Alex Hales and Afghanistan batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz for this game.

Karachi Kings

Karachi Kings are gearing up for an improved performance this season, with a potent bowling lineup led by Imad Wasim. The team has brought in Imran Tahir and Mohammad Amir to bolster their bowling attack. The responsibility of scoring runs for the team rests on the shoulders of Matthew Wade, Shoaib Malik, and Sharjeel Khan.

The upcoming match against Islamabad United will be an interesting contest, with the Kings’ bowlers taking on United’s formidable batting lineup. With James Vince and Matthew Wade in the squad, the Kings are hoping for a more effective batting performance this season. The addition of Imran Tahir to the squad gives the Kings a stronger bowling unit, and the team is looking to bounce back from a narrow loss to Peshawar Zalmi in their last match.

Imad Wasim will be leading the Kings, and it remains to be seen if James Vince, who missed the last match, will be included in the playing XI.

KAR vs ISL – PSL – Probable Playing XI’s

Karachi Kings: Matthew Wade, Sharjeel Khan, Haider Ali, Qasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Ben Cutting, Imran Tahir, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Andrew Tye

Islamabad United: Paul Stirling, Mohammad Nawaz, Colin Munro, Van der Dussen, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Tom Curran, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Zeeshan Zameer

KAR vs ISL – PSL – Pitch Report and Toss Prediction

To date, the venue has held 50 T20 matches, with 18 of those being won by the team batting first. Spin bowlers are expected to play a role in the match. The average score for the first innings at this venue is on the higher side, at 172 runs. The second game of the tournament, featuring Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi, was a high-scoring thriller played at this venue.

KAR vs ISL – PSL – Match Prediction

While Karachi Kings were defeated in their opening match, they can draw some encouragement from their performance and will be eager to make a strong comeback in this upcoming game. With a passionate home crowd cheering them on, Karachi could once again produce a solid display with the bat. However, they will need to work on their bowling to increase their chances of victory.