The PSL playoffs are down to the wire and T20 cricket fans can watch a live stream of what looks to be a thrilling semifinal pitting underdog Islamabad United against powerhouse Peshawar Zalmi, with the winner earning the right to compete for the very first Pakistan Super League championship in Tuesday’s historic PSL final, against Quetta Gladiators.
The success of the first Pakistan Super League has provided a much-needed shot in the arm to Pakistan cricket. It seems only fitting, then, that the two teams battling Sunday for a spot in the final are led by two of the greatest living Pakistan cricket stars. Shahid “Boom Boom” Afridi captains Peshawar while longtime Pakistan Test and One Day International Capain Misbah-ul-Haq skippers Islamabad — who now have a shot at the PSL title despite compiling a modest 4-4 record in the group stage of the five-team competition.
Afridi (left) and Misbah are pictured above.
Watch the PSL playoffs semifinal match, Peshawar Zalmi Vs. Islamabad United, in the video below, or continue reading for more streaming links.
3rd Qualifying Final: Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United T20 Scorecard, Prediction & Match… https://t.co/iIjGxui75G pic.twitter.com/w54pSRi0p8
— T20wc2016 (@T20wcprediction) February 21, 2016
Karachi Kings won only two of their eight group stage matches, but nonetheless qualified for the PSL playoffs, where they met Islamabad United in an eliminator match on Saturday. But it should have been a worrying sign when Captain Shoab Malik stepped aside and handed the reins to Ravi Bopara less than 24 hours before the match.
When they took to the pitch, the Kings’ fortunes only went downhill from there — running into a buzzsaw by the name of Mohammad Sami who took five wickets in four overs while surrendering only eight runs.
PSL T20 Quarter-Final Islamabad vs Karachi ‘live’ cricket score: United win by 9 wickets…… https://t.co/ZgzSbi0vLi pic.twitter.com/QsIEXG1qvX
— Emirates 24|7 (@Emirates247) February 20, 2016
Behind Sami and seven-footer Mohamad Irfan — who set the by stifling Lendl Simmons of West Indies for a maiden over to open the match — Islamabad held Karachi to an easily achievable 111 for nine, then cruised to a nine-wicket win inside of 15 overs with half-centuries from Brad Haddin and Dwayne Smith.
Watch all of Sami’s incredible wickets in the video below.
To find out how to watch a live stream of the PSL T20 cricket tournament playoffs semifinal match, Islamabad United vs. Peshawar Zalmi, see the streaming links in the final paragraph of this article. The big game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Gulf Standard Time at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday, February 21.
For fans in the United States, that start time will be 11 a.m. Eastern Time, 8 a.m. Pacific.
Peshawar, who finished on top of the PSL table in the league’s inaugural season, will be desperate for another shot at Quetta Gladiators, after the second place team pulled off a shocking upset in the first match of the playoffs — holding off Zalmi by a single run after the tournament favorites entered the 20th and final over needing just eight runs off the six remaining balls.
PSL: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings in 2nd playoff https://t.co/H1SgM5LAOH #khybernews pic.twitter.com/ziCxaGYYA4
— Khyber News (@KhyberNews) February 21, 2016
Peshawar is considered the heavy favorite to take the semifinal match, setting up the rematch with the Gladiators, with their powerhouse batting lineup that — in addition to Afridi — includes England’s Jonny Bairstow, Darren Sammy of West Indies and Pakistan star Mohammad Hafeez.
But now Afridi’s squad must find a way to deal with the blazing pace attack keyed by Sami and Irfan, as well as West Indies all-rounder Andre “Superman” Russell, while also keeping the bats of Haddin, Smith, Misbah and Russell in check.
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To watch a live stream of the 2016 PSL playoffs semifinal match, Islamabad United vs. Peshawar Zalmi, go to Cricket Gateway at this link — or try this link for other streaming options. The semifinal and final matches in the Pakistan Super League playoff matches will be streamed live in Pakistan on YouTube, through a deal between the PSL and Google, at this link . To watch the live stream on mobile devices, download the Cricket Gateway app.
[Featured Image via Pakistan Super League Facebook]
