PSL 2023 match preview: Karachi Kings v Quetta Gladiators

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

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What's the match?

Karachi Kings take on Quetta Gladiators in the next match of PSL8.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 7pm local time (2pm GMT) on Saturday, February 18.

Where is the match being played?

The National Stadium in Karachi will play host to this fixture.

Who's got the form?

Karachi Kings have started the PSL with back-to-back defeats. After being narrowly beaten by Peshawar Zalmi in their tournament opener, they were on the wrong side of a four-wicket reverse against Islamabad United.

Quetta Gladiators also come into the game yet to open their account. They've played just once, losing by nine wickets to Multan Sultans after being bowled out for just 110.

What's the key match-up?

Quetta Gladiators were poor with the bat against Multan Sultans, with Jason Roy (27) and Mohammad Hasnain (22) the only players to pass 20 with the bat.

Karachi Kings, by contrast, have not struggled for runs, scoring in excess of 170 in both of their matches to date. Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim have each scored a half-century while the latter is striking at 166.66.

Their bowling attack has struggled to contain opposition batters but given the Gladiators' obvious vulnerabilities, provided they keep Roy quiet, they should feel confident of chasing or defending almost any total.

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Haider Ali scored a half-century for the Kings last time out [Asif Hassan/Getty Images]

What is the team news?

Akif Javed has replaced Mir Hamza, who has suffered a fractured finger and is out of Kings' PSL 8 campaign.

Gladiators have to decide whether to give Will Smeed a first tournament appearance. They will be eager to get Wanindu Hasaranga involved given he will depart in early March. Naveen-ul-Haq is absent due to international commitments, with Nuwan Thushara likely to continue to deputise.

What are the squads?

Karachi Kings: Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shoaib Malik, Aamir Yamin, Mir Hamza, Sharjeel Khan, Qasim Akram, Matthew Wade, Imran Tahir, James Vince, James Fuller, Andrew Tye, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Tabraiz Shamsi, Mohammad Umar, Ben Cutting, Musa Khan, Faisal Akram (partial replacement for Tabraiz Shamsi), Adam Rossington (partial replacement for James Vince), Akif Javed (replaced Mir Hamza)

Quetta GladiatorsMohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Naveen ul Haq, Umar Akmal, Will Smeed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Naseem Shah, Odean Smith, Mohammad Hafeez, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid, Abdul Bangalzai, Aimal Khan, Martin Guptill, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qais Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Dwaine Pretorius (partial replacement for Odean Smith), Will Jacks (partial replacement for Jason Roy), Nuwan Thushara (partial replacement for Naveen ul Haq)

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

What are the possible starting XIs?

Karachi Kings: Matthew Wade, James Vince, Sharjeel Khan, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Andrew Tye, Imran Tahir, James Fuller, Mohammad Amir, Muhammad Musa

Quetta GladiatorsJason Roy, Martin Guptill, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Nawaz, Nuwan Thushara, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain

What is the weather forecast?

It should be a glorious day in Karachi, with temperatures dipping to around 28 degrees Celcius for the start of play.

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Quetta Gladiators struggled with the bat against Multan [Farooq Naeem/Getty Images]

What are the odds?

Karachi Kings start as favourites with the bookmakers at 10/11. Quetta Gladiators are the slight outsiders at evens.

What's the prediction?

Karachi Kings to finally get points on the board against a vulnerable batting side.

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).


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