The sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to get underway on Saturday, February 20, marking Pakistan fans' return to the stadium for the first time in almost a year. PSL will see a 20 per cent attendance meaning that Karachi's National Stadium will host 7,500 fans while Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, the venue for the final, will accommodate 5,500 people.
During the pandemic, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not only successfully organised more than 200 domestic games but also welcomed Zimbabwe and South Africa for two international tours. It is said that more than 120 players across six teams will remain under the bio-secured bubble during the tournament and one can rightly expect intense action this time around too.
That being said, here we take a look at some key statistics that will help you ace the first three games of the Pakistan Super League.
Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators
Defending champions Karachi Kings will kick off the new PSL campaign with a stern tie against Quetta Gladiators. History outrightly favours the Gladiators as they have won a whopping seven of their 10 meetings against the Kings, including their five-wicket win last year.
| Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators head-to-head | ||
| Karachi Kings | Metrics | Quetta Gladiators |
| 10 | Matches | 10 |
| 3 | Wins | 7 |
| 30% | Win % | 70% |
Karachi Kings have been quite lucky with the toss. The team has, in fact, won four of their last five tosses, while Gladiators have won just two. The Gladiators sure enjoy a superior record against Karachi Kings, but their recent results have pinned them down. They are coming at the back of just one win in their last five completed PSL matches.
The Imad Wasim-led Karachi Kings have enjoyed batting first and the fact that they have averaged a total of 171 in their last five PSL games (while batting first) is the perfect testament.
Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi
Last year’s finalist Lahore Qalandars will take the field on Sunday, February 21, locking horns with Peshawar Zalmi. The two teams have crossed paths on 11 occasions and Zalmi have won eight of them, with Qalandars winning a mere three games; two of which came in the previous season itself when they knocked out Zalmi in the eliminator.
| Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi head-to-head | ||
| Lahore Qalandars | Metrics | Peshawar Zalmi |
| 11 | Matches | 11 |
| 3 | Wins | 8 |
| 31.81% | Win % | 72.73% |
Qalandars have played just one game against Zalmi at the National Stadium and have come out on top. Peshawar Zalmi, on the other hand, have won just one of their last five matches at the same venue. One can rightly expect this game to be a run-fest given the fact that the last five matches at the National Stadium have seen an average of 25.8 fours and 10.4 sixes.
Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans
Islamabad United, who finished at the bottom of the PSL table last season, have played just six games against Multan Sultans, and the victories have been shared (three wins apiece) thus far. The two teams met twice in the previous season and won one game apiece. Islamabad have been the unluckiest team in the PSL, to say the least, as they have lost all of their last five tosses and have one just one of their last five games.
| Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans head-to-head | ||
| Islamabad United | Metrics | Multan Sultans |
| 6 | Matches | 6 |
| 3 | Wins | 3 |
| 50% | Win % | 50% |
Multan Sultans haven’t done great either. While they have won just two tosses (in last five), they have registered just one victory in their last five outings. While the two teams have been on the neck of each other, Islamabad have been a better side with the bat, having hit an average of 14.8 fours and 7.2 sixes in their last five games, compared to Sultans, who average 14 fours and 5.8 sixes.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @thePSLt20
