PSL 2020: Babar Azam against Shaheen Afridi and other key battles in second semi-final

Karachi Kings fight Lahore Qalandars on Tuesday for a spot in the final

Karachi Kings's Babar Azam plays a shot during the PSL match against Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore. AFP

Even if they did have an even split of five wins and five losses in the league phase, it feels as though Lahore Qalandars are a side reborn this season in the Pakistan Super League.

After four seasons finishing dead last, they have made the knockout stage for the first time, and they have been good value for it.

Whether they can temper the loss of Chris Lynn will be vital. He made a searing century on Saturday, before heading home to Australia in response to the coronavirus situation.

They are hardly short of batting firepower in his absence, though, with Fakhar Zaman and Ben Dunk both in fine form.

Karachi Kings were the second best side in the league phase, behind Multan Sultans, and will be confident of advancing in the second semi-final on Tuesday.

KEY BATTLES 

Chris Jordan v Ben Dunk

One of Lahore’s shaven-headed Australian batting heroes has headed back home because of the Covid-19 outbreak, but the other has stayed on.

Lynn signed off his spell in Pakistan with a ton last time out. But Dunk remained, seemingly intent on finishing the job he has done so spectacularly to this point.

He hit 12 sixes in making his matchwinning 99 not out against this opposition in the group match.

Jordan, one of Karachi’s overseas players to have stayed on, will have to be at his best to quell the threat of Lahore’s in-form batsman.

Mohammad Amir v Sohail Akhtar

These two could scarcely have had different stories.

Amir became a huge international star in his teens, was banned for five years for corruption, and has remained one of the most storied players in the game after making a successful comeback to the sport.

Akhtar, by contrast, was all but lost to the sport until Qalandars gave him a go, aged 30.

While trying to make it in the game, he played second grade cricket for a team run by a sweet-maker, and later held a job in Pakistan’s atomic energy sector.

The 34-year-old captain’s late blooming has resulted in a fine PSL, which included two innings of 68 against Karachi in the league phase.

Babar Azam v Shaheen Afridi

The league’s best batsman against its best bowler? There is a case to suggest that this match up fits that bill.

Babar is the world No 1 ranked T20 international batsman, and he is the leading run-scorer in this PSL, too, with 345 runs at nearly 50.

His Pakistan teammate Shaheen is among the most incisive bowlers – second in the wicket charts behind Mohammed Hasnain – as well as thrifty, being the second most economical seamer, after Sohail Tanvir.

Schedule

Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars, second semi-final in Lahore on Tuesday, 6pm start (UAE time)