Babar's Zalmi likely to get partisan support against Islamabad United.

The Local boy Babar Azam - led Peshawar Zalmi are set to meet Islamabad United in the eliminator 1 of the HBL PSL 8 at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday (tomorrow) night. Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United stand at 10-10 in the head to head competitions between the two teams while one match was abandoned.

The Zalmi side will enjoy psychological advantage against the United as they managed to get the better of Islamabad who were restricted to 166 in pursuit of 180 runs in their last match of the group stage in Rawalpindi last Sunday. Islamabad United had beaten Peshawar Zalmi in the other match of the PSL 8 earlier in this edition.

The Zalmis are expected to get partisan support from the Lahore crowd as local boy Babar Azam returns to the iconic Gaddafi stadium to lead, captaining Peshawar Zalmi for first time, his team in yet another playoff fixture of the HBL PSL.

Babar Azam who started cricket in Lahore and Gaddafi Stadium is super batter's home ground despite the fact he plays for the Peshawar Zalmi. The Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators are the only two teams who have not yet been able to play in front of their home crowds during the past eight editions.

Babar Azam is second on the top batters' list of the HBL PSL 8 with 416 runs in 9 matches and is only behind...