IPL 2020: Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders vie for final playoff spot

Three of the four playoff places in the 2020 IPL have now been confirmed.

Mumbai Indians, who finished top of the league phase, will face Delhi Capitals in the first qualifier playoff in Dubai on Thursday.

The winner of that match will advance straight to the final, which will be played at Dubai International Stadium on November 10.

The loser will get a last chance in the second qualifier, in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, where they will face the winner of Friday’s eliminator match.

That fixture will definitely involve Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Their opposition is dependent on Tuesday's last league match, between Mumbai and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

By virtue of a superior run rate, Hyderabad know that victory will take them above Kolkata Knight Riders in the table.

If Hyderabad lose against Mumbai, Kolkata will advance to play Bangalore in the eliminator.

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Rahane delivers for Delhi

Shikhar Dhawan, right and Ajinkya Rahane of Delhi Capitals hit fifties against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Sportzpics for BCCI

Ajinkya Rahane of Delhi Capitals scored a match-winning 60 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Virat Kohli, captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, after the defeat to Delhi Capitals. Sportzpics for BCCI

Shreyas Iyer, captain of Delhi Capitals, in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

Bangalore veteran AB de Villiers hit a quick 35. Sportzpics for BCCI

Delhi spinner Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 1-18. Sportzpics for BCCI

Mohammed Siraj of the Royal Challengers Bangalore celebrates the wicket of Prithvi Shaw. Sportzpics for BCCI

Devdutt Padikkal of the Royal Challengers Bangalore scored a fifty. Sportzpics for BCCI

Florida: The critical Sunshine State

Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.

Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.

In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.

UAE players with central contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.