Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings Tips & Preview - Shadab's Form Revives Islamabad United's Playoff Hopes

Islamabad United’s two games in Rawalpindi brought them three points: one courtesy a washout and another two courtesy a 29-run win over Peshawar Zalmi.

Suddenly from languishing near the bottom, just above Lahore Qalandars, United are firmly in playoff contention, and are currently placed third with three wins from seven matches. 

Against Zalmi in their most-recent outing, they would have been further buoyed by a massive contribution from their captain, Shadab Khan, who struck four fours and six sixes in his unbeaten 51-ball 80.

That formed the crux of their 196 for 4, something that looked a long way off when their openers, including the in-form Colin Munro fell with the score reading 28 for 2 in three.

They managed to sustain their aggressive tempo right through the innings, and found key contributions lower down the order from Jordan Cox and Azam Khan, who made 29 off just 14 balls to muscle them close to 200, which made a massive difference not just in terms of victory or defeat but also to their net-run-rate.

Karachi Kings were blindsided by Multan Sultans and are currently fifth with just two wins in six games. While even a win won’t lift them from there, it will be vital for them to take home two points to remain in contention. So this is as good as a make-or-break game for them.

The bowling has been particularly shabby, and they haven’t allowed their batters to play a pressure-free game at any stage. 

Against Sultans, they found themselves chasing 190 but couldn’t find a single batter who could carry on to make more than 38. At no stage in the chase, did it appear as if they would make a serious pitch to raze down the target.

Kieron Pollard was unavailable for the previous game due to prior commitments in India, but he’ll be back to shore up the lower middle order. 

Expect to come right back in for Leus de Ploy. They will need more from Tim Seifert and James Vince, while also hoping Shan Masood, the captain, continues to find it better at the top of the order as against in the middle order.

The trend of going big in alternate games seems to have caught on well with Munro. Expect him to fetch valuable points, given his Bazball like approach in the powerplay. If it comes off for United, he’ll be a valuable asset to your fantasy team. 

Azam Khan will be an excellent addition to your wicketkeeping stocks, while you can also bank big on Masood to fetch you points up top. 

In terms of the results, all considered, Kings seem just a tad brittle in the middle and could find it tougher to bridge the gulf between them and United on the points table. Bank big on United to inch closer to the playoffs.