National T20 Cup, 2019: 1st Semi-Final, Northern vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Match Details:

The 1st Semi-Final of the National T20 Cup 2019 will be played between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northern at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

The match starts at 1:30 PM local time (2:00 PM IST) (8:30 AM GMT)

Preview:

After fifteen league games, the first semi-final pits Northern against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While Northern won four out of their five games, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa just managed to sneak into final four courtesy of a Fakhar Zaman special against Central Punjab. The last time these two teams faced off against one another, Ali Imran and Mohammad Musa Khan starred in a rain-curtailed game.

Northern Areas will enter this game as the firm favourites although they will be wary of Mohammad Rizwan, who has scored 200 runs this season for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. With a good mix of experience and youth in their side, Khyber isn’t one to be taken lightly with Usman Shinwari and Mohammad Mohsin forming a potent partnership with the ball. With a place in the final beckoning, both teams look to make use of their opportunity on Wednesday.

Weather Condition/Report:

The weather forecast for the Iqbal Stadium is all clear with minimal chances of rain. While there will be some cloud cover and humidity, it should be a pleasant day for a good game of cricket.

Pitch Condition/Report:

A low scoring game was witnessed on Monday as Southern Punjab successfully defended their total of 148. We might see a fresh pitch for the knockouts. Usually, the batting second team gets to chase targets around 150 more often and hence they win comfortably in broad daylight here.

Average first innings score: 165 (Six Afternoon games in the tournament)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 5, Lost – 1

Injury and Availability News:

(Will be added when there is an update)

Probable Playing XIs:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:

Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan (C & WK), Ifthikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Zohaib Khan,  Mohammad Mohsin, Usman Khan Shinwari, Imran Khan Jr, Irfanullah Shah, Musadiq Ahmed.

Bench: Israrullah, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Ilyas, Umar Khan, Sameen Gul.

Northern:

Umar Amin, Ali Imran, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Sohail Akhtar, Imad Wasim (C), Rohail Nazir (WK), Mohammad Amir, Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Sohail Tanvir.

Bench: Naveed Malik, Haris Rauf, Zaid Alam, Hammad Azam, Haider Ali.

Top Picks:

Mohammad Nawaz has scored 97 runs and picked up two wickets. His all-round abilities are a worth-while option as he was promoted up the order on a couple of occasions. Umar Amin is one of the most consistent players in the league with 163 runs to his name. With four 30+ scores in five games, he looks good for more. Similarly, Fakhar Zaman sprung back to form with a sensational 82 to earn Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s spot in this semi-final. His form bodes well for Khyber coming into this game.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

Captain – Mohammad Rizwan,  Mohammad Nawaz,  Umar Amin

Vice-Captain – Asif Ali,  Fakhar Zaman,  Shadab Khan

Suggested Playing XI for Head to Head/Small Leagues:

Keeper – Mohammad Rizwan (C)

Batsmen – Umar Amin (VC),  Asif Ali,  Khushdil Shah,  Fakhar Zaman

All-Rounders – Shadab Khan,  Mohammad Nawaz,  Mohammad Mohsin

Bowlers – Usman Khan Shinwari,  Mohammad Amir,  Musa Khan

Suggested Playing XI for Grand Leagues/Mega Leagues:

Keeper – Mohammad Rizwan

Batsmen – Fakhar Zaman (VC),  Sohail Akthar,  Umar Amin

All-Rounders – Mohammad Nawaz (C),  Shadab Khan,  Iftikhar Ahmed,  Mohammad Mohsin

Bowlers – Sohail Tanvir,  Usman Khan Shinwari,  Musa Khan

Expert Advice:

Mohammad Nawaz is a floater in the Northern side and is promoted up the order based on the situation. Nevertheless, he is a viable option for the Dream11 team. With a number of bowlers rated at 9 credits, Musa Khan is a dependable pick for this game with his pace being a key asset to the team.

Probable Winners:

The Northern team is expected to make it to the final.

*Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.