Ravi Bopara
Ravi Bopara will take over from Shoaib Malik as the captain of Karachi Kings Getty

Islamabad United take on Karachi Kings in the second qualifying final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 20 February (Saturday).

Where to watch

The match will start at 3.30pm GMT. Live coverage of the game is available in the UK on Prime TV.

Overview

The second qualifying final of the PSL will see Islamabad United take on Karachi Kings at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The winner will face Peshawar Zalmi in the third qualifying final on 21 February (Sunday) for a place in the main final.

Islamabad United come into this game on the back of a two-match unbeaten streak, beating Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings to seal a spot in the knock-out stages, displaying the kind of performances that were not visible during the initial stages of the tournament.

Islamabad might not have the strongest of sides but skipper Misbah-ul-Haq has marshalled his resources well, with the players chipping in at important times. There might be no standout performance from the United outfit so far but in Brad Haddin, Andre Russell, Dwayne Smith and the skipper himself they have players who are capable of winning a game on their day. Their bowling has looked good with comeback man Saeed Ajmal showing glimpses of his old self. Expect Islamabad to go in with the same team that beat Karachi in their last encounter.

The Karachi Kings were rocked by news of Shoaib Malik stepping down as the captain on the eve of their game, which would have come as a shock to the team management. Malik, who has not had a great PSL so far, will play as a regular member with Englishman Ravi Bopara set to lead the side on Saturday.

The Kings have not been in good form of late, coming into this game on the back of back-to-back losses, they started the league well but tapered off in the closing stages. However, in Bopara they have arguably the player of the tournament so far. The all-rounder has scored 292 runs and taken 11 wickets, while Lendl Simmons and Shakib-Al-Hasan have contributed at various stages. The bowling, Bopara aside, has looked flat, something which would be of concern to the team management. If the Kings are to win, they will have to make sure that their bowlers step up.

Karachi will be without Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib-Al-Hasan, who have flown back to Bangladesh to prepare for the Asia Cup, with Owais Shah and Ryan Ten Doeschate set to take their place.

Prediction

Karachi Kings to win

Betting odds (888sport)

  • Islamabad United to win: 9/10
  • Karachi Kings to win:9/10

Team news

Islamabad United

Probable XI: Dwayne Smith, Sharjeel Khan, Brad Haddin (wk), Khalid Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Andre Russell, Asif Ali, Azhar Mahmood, Saeed Ajmal, Ruman Raees, Mohammad Irfan

Karachi Kings

Probable XI: Lendl Simmons, Shahzaib Hasan, James Vince/Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara (c), Shoaib Malik, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Bilawal Bhatti, Usama Mir, Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan, Saifullah Bangash (wk)