Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi will clash in the Eliminator 1 match of the Pakistan Super League 2023 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on March 16. United suffered a narrow 13-run defeat against Peshawar Zalmi in their last game but finished third on the league table with 12 points from 10 group-stage matches this season. 

It was a preview for Eliminator 1 as both teams put in their best to get better of each other. The English batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore led the team in the absence of a rested skipper Babar Azam. Mohammad Haris smashed 79 off just 39 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa added 41 off 25 as Zalmi scored 179/9 while batting first. Hasan Ali took three wickets and captain Shadab Khan got two for the United. 

Peshawar had lost the previous two games despite scoring 240-plus totals while batting first, so they were second favorites to defend 179 runs against the United. But young pacer Khurram Shahzad and left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem took three wickets each to bowl Islamabad United out to just 166 runs in 19.4 overs. 

Wahab Riaz is leading the bowling chart for Peshawar Zalmi with nine wickets from nine innings but was rested for the United game. Both Babar and Wahab are expected to return to the playing XI for the Eliminator game. 

Fazalhaq Farooqi has taken 10 wickets in five innings this season while Hasan Ali is leading the chart for Islamabad United with 12 wickets. But Mohammad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, and Mubasir Khan need to contribute more if Islamabad United wish to qualify for Eliminator 2. 

Shadab struggled in the early games but has been in good form lately with four wickets and 81 runs in his last three innings. Azam Khan, who has scored 280 runs across eight innings this season, was rested against Peshawar Zalmi in the last game. He is likely to replace Sohaib Maqsood who played his first game of this season against Zalmi. 

However, Peshawar Zalmi lost the first game against Islamabad United by six wickets this season but are favourites to win the Eliminator 1.