PSL 2023 match preview: Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 PSL

What's the match?

Islamabad United take on Peshawar Zalmi in the next match of PSL8.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 2pm local time (9am GMT) on Sunday, March 12.

Where is the match being played?

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will play host to this fixture.

Who's got the form?

Islamabad United head into this game in good form, winning six matches from a possible nine to find themselves in third position (on net run rate) and assured of a place in the knockout stages. However, they suffered a 119-run defeat at the hands of Lahore Qalandars in their most recent outing.

Peshawar Zalmi, meanwhile, have struggled to string results together, winning four and losing five, but booked their place in the playoffs on Saturday night when Quetta Gladiators lost to Multan Sultans. Zalmi cannot finish any higher than fourth but will want to head into the knockout stages with winning momentum.

When the two sides met in February, Islamabad United won by six wickets.

What's the key match-up?

Islamabad United have a number of powerful hitters, headlined by Colin Munro and Azam Khan. Munro has scored 279 runs at a strike rate of 182.35 in PSL8 while Khan has scored 280 runs at a rate of 162.79.

And you'd expect both of those players to be rubbing their hands with glee given Peshawar Zalmi's recent form. In their past two matches, Babar Azam's side have conceded 487 runs, failing to defend 240-plus totals on both occasions.

A high-scoring affair should be on the cards and Zalmi's bowlers might be in for another rough day at the office - with an economy of 8.44, Sufiyan Muqeem has been his side's most miserly bowler.

Azam Khan (AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)

What is the team news?

After sustaining an injury to his left hand during the match between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars, Azam Khan was forced to sit out of the second innings. However, Islamabad United later announced on Twitter that he had not suffered any fractures, which would come as a relief to fans and his teammates alike.

Peshawar Zalmi have no injury concerns to contend with and can be expected to stick with their new-look opening pair of Babar Azam and Saim Ayub, with both players among the runs in recent matches.

What are the squads?

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Colin Munro, Paul Stirling, Alex Hales, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abrar Ahmed, Sohaib Maqsood, Rumman Raees, Zeeshan Zamir, Hassan Nawaz, Moeen Ali (available from March 14), Mubasir Khan, Tom Curran, Zafar Gohar, Gus Atkinson (partial replacement for Rahmanullah Gurbaz), Tymal Mills (partial replacement for Alex Hales), Rassie van der Dussen (partial replacement for Moeen Ali)

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Sherfane Rutherford, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal, Salman Irshad, Tom-Kohler Cadmore, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rovman Powell, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal, Saim Ayub, Usman Qadir, Suifyan Muqeem, Haseeb Ullah, Jimmy Neesham, Khurram Shahzad, Haris Sohail, Richard Gleeson (partial replacement for Rovman Powell), Peter Hatzoglou (partial replacement for Mujeeb ur Rahman), Shakib Al Hasan (available until February 26)

*squads are for the overall competition and not specific to this match

What are the possible starting XIs?

Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hassan Ali, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Peshawar Zalmi: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris, Haseebullah Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Arshad Iqbal

What is the weather forecast?

Cloudy skies are expected in Rawalpindi but there is no rain in the forecast. Temperatures will be hovering in the mid-twenties.

Peshawar Zalmi's bowlers have struggled to contain batters (AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)

What are the odds?

Islamabad United are the favourites for victory, with odds of 3/4, while Peshawar Zalmi are the outsiders at 11/10

What's the prediction?

Islamabad United should be too strong for a Peshawar Zalmi side with a bowling problem. Islamabad United win.

Where can I watch the game?

Cricket fans in Pakistan will be able to watch PSL8 on A Sports, PTV Sports and TEN Sports on TV. Streamed matches will be available on Daraz App, tapmadTV and Tamasha.

Viewers around the world can watch the action live on Fox Sports (Australia), Sony (South Asia outside Pakistan), Willow TV (North America), Flow Sports (Caribbean), Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Super Sport (sub-Saharan Africa) and, Etisalat and STARZPLAY (Mena).