Match starts at 8pm

DUBAI February 23: The preliminary round of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 now moves towards the business end as action returns to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium after a week of nail-biting finishes at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

All five competing teams are in contention for a place in the play-offs, the Dubai leg commences with a match between bottom ranked Karachi Kings and top-ranked Quetta Gladiators.

Kings and Gladiators clashed in Dubai in the opening week of the tournament; Gladiators won that match through a match winning partnership between Rilee Rossouw and captain Sarfraz Ahmed.

Gladiators pulled off a stunning win over Lahore Qalandars in Sharjah with Kevin Pietersen striking form with a belligerent match winning innings chasing 201, KP’s return of form is surely another morale booster for Sarfraz’s men.

Kings on the other hand have all to play for as they aim to increase their current four points tally, the Karachi team succeeded to defy Shahid Afridi and Daren Sammy in the closing stages of their Sharjah cliffhanger to stay alive in the tournament.

Babar Azam will once again be pivotal to their chances, the young opener has looked a class above with his composed batting and stroke play, Chris Gayle who is yet to fire can still take the game away from the opposition if today is his day.

Kings bowlers have done admirably in recent games and captain Kumar Sangakkara would once again be pinning hopes on Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan and spinners like Usama Mir, who held his nerves against Afridi to give his team the win in the Sharjah tie last Sunday.