Sarfraz Ahmed goes for a big shot © PCB/PSL
Toss Quetta Gladiators opt to field v Peshawar Zalmi
Despite the side batting first having won five of the seven matches in Karachi this year, Quetta Gladiators opted to stick to the formula that has served them so well. Sarfraz Ahmed called correctly at the toss, and decided to stick Peshawar in to bat. Quetta have won all three matches between the sides this year, and a fourth today would give them their first PSL title.
Both sides are unchanged the final, which means Liam Dawson, who was so instrumental earlier in the season, misses out. Misbah-ul-Haq, who was captain of the Islamabad United side that won two of the first three titles, also misses out on a slot in the final. Daren Sammy said he believed anything above 180 would be a challenging score to chase down, and was confident there was enough firepower in his batting ranks to give Peshawar a second PSL title in three years.
Quetta going in with the same lineup means Fawad Ahmed has recovered from the nasty facial injury he suffered that required dental surgery as well as stitches. He has been Quetta’s best spinner by far, and if fully fit, could be a serious weapon later on in the innings to the likes of Pollard and Sammy, who prefer pace on the ball.
Peshawar Zalmi: 1 Kamran Akmal (wk), 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Sohaib Maqsood, 4 Umar Amin, 5 Nabi Gul, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Daren Sammy (capt), 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Tymal Mills, 11 Hasan Ali
Quetta Gladiators: 1 Shane Watson, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Ahsan Ali, 4 Rilee Rossouw, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Sohail Tanvir, 10 Mohammad Hasnain, 11 Fawad Ahmed
Danyal Rasool is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Danny61000
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo