Shahid Afridi Misbah-ul-Haq
Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq will face off for a chance to play the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) getty

Islamabad United take on Peshawar Zalmi in the third Playoff of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), for a place in the final of the tournament at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 21 February.

Where to watch live

Match starts at 3.30pm GMT. Live coverage of the game is available in the UK on Prime TV.

Overview

The inaugural PSL, is heading towards its last leg, with only one question remaining, who will join Quetta Gladiators in the final, will it be Islamabad United or Peshawar Zalmi, who face off in the all-important third Playoff, on Saturday.

The Islamabad outfit, come into this game on a three-match unbeaten run, impressing everyone with their fight and tenacity. Forgotten man, Mohammad Sami was the star for Islamabad in the second qualifying final on Saturday, ripping through the Karachi Kings line-up to end with figures of 5 for 8.

The team led by Misbah-ul-Haq , started the tournament slowly but peaked at the right time, however they are yet to beat a team other than Karachi and Lahore. In Dwayne Smith and Brad Haddin, they have two experienced T20 players, while Andre Russell provides that added spark to the side. Azhar Mahmood and Saeed Ajmal were dropped for the last game against Karachi, but are expected to play in the third game.

Such is the nature of the T20 format, that having one bad day could turn out to be extremely costly. Peshawar Zalmi have had a excellent tournament so far and have paid for having a bad day when they lost to Quetta Gladiators in the first Playoff on 19 February.

Shahid Afridi's men, however, go into this game as favourites, based on their performance over the past two weeks. In Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Brad Hodge, Darren Sammy, Johnny Bairstow and skipper Afridi himself, they have enough firepower to chase down any total while Wahab Riaz has bowled well and is well supported by two emerging players Mohammad Asghar and Hasan Ali. Zalmi are not expected to make any changes, and will go into this clash with the same eleven that played Quetta Gladiators on Friday.

Prediction

Peshawar Zalmi to win

Betting odds (888sport)

  • Islamabad United to win: 1
  • Peshawar Zalmi to win:4/5

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, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Irfan.

Peshawar Zalmi

Probable XI: Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal (WK), Brad Hodge, Jonny Bairstow, Shahid Yousuf, Darren Sammy, Shahid Afridi (C), Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Asghar, Shaun Tait.