Islamabad United are battling a spate of injuries to key players yet have put up a good show in the Pakistan Super League by entering the semi-finals.

Head coach Dean Jones claims his team has shown “great character” in battling the odds and making it to the knockout phase that begins in Dubai from Friday.

The PSL revealed yesterday about Islamabad (three wins, six points) becoming the third team to qualify for the semis behind leaders Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators (10 points each). Islamabad have played seven matches, the same as Karachi Kings, who are placed fourth with four points while Lahore Qalandars are at the bottom with four points but have two games remaining.

“For those asking @IsbUnited have qualified because #HBLPSL playing conditions take into account head to head record before NRR,” PSL tweeted.

Islamabad were dealt a big blow when their icon player Shane Watson was forced to return home on Sunday after suffering a abdominal muscle strain. Their captain Misbah-ul Haq missed a couple of games owing to a calf injury although he was back at the helm in their five wicket win against Karachi Kings in Sharjah on Sunday.

“We have been smashed by injuries,”Jones told Sport360 on the sidelines of his leadership and success talk to the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

“Andre Russell has got shine soreness and he won’t play the next match (against Lahore Qalandars), Babar (Azam) has got a badly bruised arm, Umar Amin has a hip flexor injury and Mohammad Sami has hurt his toe… We are walking wounded but still winning, that shows great character.

It’s about dealing with adversity and coping with it,” he said.