The HBL-Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become synonymous with quality cricket and the six league franchises are supported by passionate fans who give it their all to cheer their respective teams.
Over the course of the four HBL PSL editions, the contests between Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars have attracted large crowds in the stadiums and massive viewership on TVs and fans look ahead to them with bated breath. Karachi and Lahore are the two biggest cities of the country and are also known the world over as the traditional nurseries of Pakistan cricket.
Both the teams have so far failed in their quest for silverware as both have failed to make it to the finals. Lahore Qalandars, however, have never made it to the play-offs. But with both teams set to play in front of their impassioned fans at the National Stadium Karachi and Qaddafi Stadium Lahore, respectively, in this season, their performances are expected to surge to a new level. The two group-stage games will be played within five days and with the tickets already in high demand. These matches are expected to be played in front of jam-packed stadiums with vociferous support.
On what will be a Super Sunday, Lahore Qalandars will host Karachi Kings in a night game on 8th March at Pakistan's home of cricket Gaddafi Stadium. On 12th March, Karachi Kings will take the hosting responsibilities as the iconic National Stadium will stage the much-anticipated contest.
Kings have assembled an explosive batting line-up for HBL PSL 2020 season with the ICC top-ranked batsman Babar Azam set to lead the batting charge along with England's Alex Hales, South African Cameron Delport and Sharjeel Khan. The Kings top-order though would be challenged by Qalandars' pace left-armers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shinwari, who has moved to the Lahore side for this season. Pakistan's new pace sensation Haris Rauf would also aim to mark his presence against the Kings top-order especially his T20I captain Babar.
On the other hand, Qalandars batsmen Chris Lynn, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Salman Butt, and Ben Dunk are likely to be tested by Kings formidable bowling attack led by Mohammad Amir. The left-armer will have England's right-arm-pacer Chris Jordan and New Zealand's left-armer Mitchell McClenaghan for company backed by the experienced Umaid Asif.
Left-arm-spinners Imad Wasim and the last season wonder kid Umar Khan provide further depth to the Kings bowling line-up which will aim to keep the Qalandars batsmen in check on the batting friendly tracks of Gaddafi Stadium and National Stadium. Despite their less than satisfactory results in the first four seasons and the lack of silverware, both Kings and Qalandars have a huge fan base and some die-hard fans who would undoubtedly spur the two sides to greater things especially on their home turfs.
Squads:
Karachi Kings:
Platinum - Babar Azam, Mohammad Amir and Alex Hales; Diamond - Imad Wasim (captain), Iftikhar Ahmed and Chris Jordan; Gold - Aamir Yamin, Sharjeel Khan and Cameron Delport; Silver - Usama Mir, Mohammad Rizwan, Umaid Asif, Chadwick Walton and Ali Khan; Emerging - Umer Khan and Arshad Iqbal; Supplementary - Mitch McClenaghan and Awais Zia
Lahore Qalandars:
Platinum - Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez and Chris Lynn; Diamond - Shaheen Afridi, David Wiese and Usman Shinwari; Gold - Haris Rauf, Sohail Akhtar (captain) and Samit Patel; Silver - Salman Butt, Seekkuge Prsanna, Ben Dunk, Farzan Raja, Jaahid Ali; Emerging - Mohammad Faizan; Supplementary - Dane Vilas, Dilbar Hussain.