Although Karachi Kings, the former Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions, were defeated by Islamabad United, their chances of qualifying for the play-offs were not completely wiped out. Imad Wasim’s team still has a slim chance of finishing in the top four.
Lahore Qalandars currently lead the point table with 10 points from 6 games, while Multan Sultans and Islamabad United each have 8 points from the same number of games as Qalandars. Peshawar Zalmi has 6 points from 6 games, while Karachi Kings is in 5th place with 4 points from 8 games. Gladiators are last in the table with two points from six games.
First and foremost, Karachi Kings must win their two remaining games against Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars in order to finish with 8 points at the end of the league stage.
Kings would also like Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi to lose all of their remaining games – at least the last three before they face each other on September 29th.
Zalmi face Lahore Qalandars on March 7, Quetta Gladiators on March 8, and Multan Sultans on March 10, while Islamabad United face Quetta Gladiators on March 5, Multan Sultans on March 7, and Lahore Qalandars on March 9.
Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi are scheduled to meet on March 12th, the last day of the league stage, and that match has the potential to make the league interesting.
Karachi Kings would like the following results in upcoming matches to keep their PSL 8 hopes alive:
Match 20: Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans: (LQ 12, MS 8, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 4, QG 2)
Match 21: Quetta Gladiators beat Islamabad United: (LQ 12, MS 8, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 4, QG 4)
Match 22: Karachi Kings beat Quetta Gladiators: (LQ 12, MS 8, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 4)
Match 23: Lahore Qalandars beat Peshawar Zalmi: (LQ 14, MS 8, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 4)
Match 24: Multan Sultans beat Islamabad United: (LQ 14, MS 10, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 4)
Match 25: Quetta Gladiators beat Peshawar Zalmi: (LQ 14, MS 10, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 6)
Match 26: Lahore Qalandars beat Islamabad United: (LQ 16, MS 10, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 6)
Match 27: Multan Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi: (LQ 16, MS 12, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 6)
Match 28: Multan Sultans beat Quetta Gladiators: (LQ 16, MS 14, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 6)
*if QG beat MS: (LQ 16, MS 12, IU 8, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 8)
Match 29: Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi: (LQ 16, MS 14, IU 10, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 6)
*if QG beat MS and PZ beat IU (LQ 16, MS 12, IU 8, PZ 8, KK 6, QG 8)
*If MS beat QG and PZ beat IU (LQ 16, MS 14, IU 8, PZ 8, KK 6, QG 6)
*if QG beat MS and IU beat PZ (LQ 16, MS 12, IU 10, PZ 6, KK 6, QG 8)
Match 30: Karachi Kings beat Lahore Qalandars: (LQ 16, MS 14, IU 10, KK 8, PZ 6, QG 6)
It would be more interesting if QG beat MS, PZ beat IU, and KK beat LQ in the 28th, 29th, and 30th matches, and the rest of the matches went as KK desired. Then IU, PZ, KK, and QG would all be tied with 8 points, and NRR would be considered.
As they say, it’s not over until it’s over, so as the PSL nears the end of the league stage, a lot of ifs and buts are hanging on to keep every team’s hopes alive.
