The European Cricket Network live broadcasts the 2020 European Cricket Series Barcelona encounter between Pakcelona and Kings.
Tune in to the live action Friday from 8:30am CEST * 7:30am UK/GMT * 12:30pm IST from the Montjuïc ground in Barcelona, Spain.
Team Preview for Pakcelona
Pakcelona CC have won two of their five matches in the series and although the finals seem out of reach, they will still want to put on a good performance as the tournament moves into its third week. I predicted them to win against Bengali last Thursday and they certainly didn’t let me down, blasting their way to a total of 147 on their way to a comfortable 22 run victory. They will be missing the services of Adeel Ahmed in this match but they have other players capable of covering his absence.
Captain: Raja Khaliq-ur-Rehman
Main Wicketkeeper: Jahanzaib Asghar
Key Players:
Shahzad Khan has been a start with the ball in this series with a team-leading seven wickets. He has been a bit hit and miss with the bat but finished their innings brilliantly against Bengali in the last match with an unbeaten 28 off only 10 balls. Look out for him in this one.
Ishtiaq Nazir is Pakcelona’s leading run-scorer for the series. He has been their most destructive batsman and also batted will in the last match with 22 off nine balls.
Raja Khaliq-ur-Rehman is a very experienced cricketer. Promoting himself to the top of the order proved a masterstroke in the last match, not to mention his wily off-spinners proving a very effective change of pace for his team when they are in the field.
Team Preview for Kings
Bangladesh Kings are sitting third on the ladder but have two games in hand over the two teams above them. One of those teams is Badalona Shaheen who they pulled off a dramatic victory against in their last match, chasing down 144 after a horrendous start in which they conceded 51 runs off the first two overs of the match! Kamrul Islam Foysol misses this match which will be a big blow to their chances after his inspirational innings of 60 in that last game.
Captain: Moshiur Rahman
Main Wicketkeeper: Jubed Miah
Key Players:
Jubed Miah will execute the wicketkeeping duties and has been promising without being outstanding at the top of the order for the Bangladeshi side. He will hope to get the Kings off to a fast start.
Shakil Mia can open the batting and although he has been steady and made some good contributions, he would certainly like to improve on his series high score of 32 in this match.
Sofiqul Islam has been their leading scorer in the Liga Catalana this season, averaging over 100 with a top score of 109. He hasn’t shown that kind of form in the European Cricket Series so far but he could find form at any minute.
Mr Maximo’s tip: PAKCELONA
The Kings were the miracle men in that match against Badalona Shaheen last Thursday but I think they will feel the loss of Foysol sorely in this match. I predict Pakcelona to be too strong and win out in a close contest, the first of four matches on Monday to kick off the third and final week of what has certainly been an intriguing European Cricket Series in Barcelona. Tune in to the European Cricket Network to catch all of the action!
