It’s now or never for Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings

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When was the last time cricket fans witnessed Shahid Khan Afridi batting consistently for any team? It has been a long while since that has happened. Boom Boom Afridi has been clearing the boundaries consistently and Karachi Kings would have to be on their toes if Zalmi are chasing second with Afridi on the crease.

Karachi Kings, on the other hand, are peaking at the right time and Peshawar Zalmi will be on guard as the two teams meet in the last playoff in Dubai Friday (March 3).

The winner of this playoff will join the Quetta Gladiators, who were outclassed by Islamabad United’s Dwayne Smith in the final of last season, but this time around fans are guaranteed to have a new team in the final alongside Gladiators.

The final is going to be a completely different experience for both Gladiators and the other finalist because playing in front of a packed Gaddafi stadium will bring its own pressure and nerves.

Shahid Afridi, their former captain, hoped things would be different this time for Zalmi.

“We know the importance of this match and we want to play the final and win the trophy, so we are aiming to cross the first hurdle against a dangerous Karachi side, who have now got a good rhythm,” he said.

“We need not commit the same mistakes that we did against Quetta in the last game and [need to] be at our best.”

Afridi added that almost all Zalmi players are back in form, which is a good sign ahead of the tough match-up against the Kings.

“We are ready to face Karachi Kings in the playoff. Young players are also performing,” Afridi concluded.

Peshawar—in a bizarre case of history repeating itself almost identically—squandered a comfortable chance to reach the final in the first playoffs when they lost by a solitary run to Quetta, after needing just two off the last three balls. Quetta spinner Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Wahab Riaz, Chris Jordan, and Hasan Ali to help them clinch an unbelievable thriller.

Karachi are eyeing a spot in the final, having lost to Islamabad, in the eliminator last year.

They lost one game against Peshawar by seven wickets, but won the return game by nine runs.

Karachi are peaking at just about the right time, winning their last three games on the trot. Imad Wasim and Usama Mir grabbed three wickets apiece, while Mohammad Amir returned to his best with 3 for 7 as Karachi defended a meagre 127-run target on Wednesday against defending champions Islamabad United.

Both the leading run scorer and the leading wicket taker belong to Karachi Kings. Babar Azam is on top of the chart for batsmen by scoring 290 runs, whereas, for bowlers, Sohail Khan is on top with 15 wickets. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara has also played some crucial innings and he’d be trying his best to take Kings to the final in his last PSL game since he won’t be playing in Lahore on March 5.

Kieron Pollard is another big name who has found form at a time when Karachi needed him the most.

The final in front of passionate Pakistani fans will be decided on the basis of who controls their nerves better as the contest would get evened out; both Zalmi and Kings would be hoping to qualify and give Gladiators a run for their money. We’re guaranteed to have a new PSL champion and it’s now or never for the two teams.