KARACHI (Kashmir English): The 25th match of the Pakistan Super League will be played today between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and Rawalpindi Pindiz (LQ vs RP).
Lahore Qalandars, who lost to Quetta Gladiators on Friday, will try to erase the stain of failure in their seventh match.
Rawalpindi, who were eliminated from the Final Four race, will enter the field with the desire for their first victory in their seventh match.
Lahore Qalandars could collect only four points after two wins and three losses in six matches.
Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafiq, Haseebullah Khan, and Usama Mir, who played a resistant innings against Quetta Gladiators on Friday, will once again be the center of Lahore Qalandars’ hopes in batting, while Lahore Qalandars will be content with their captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mustafizur Rehman, Obaid Shah, Usama Mir, and Sikandar Raza in bowling.
On the other hand, the Rawalpindi team, which has suffered setbacks in all its 6 matches, will once again focus on Daryl Mitchell, Abdullah Fazal, and Sam Billing, along with its captain Muhammad Rizwan, in batting, while it will depend on Muhammad Amir and Mubashar Khan in bowling.
Peshawar Zalmi seal PSL playoff spot
The 2017 champions, Peshawar Zalmi holds top spot in the eight-team tournament’s standings and have formally qualified for the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.
Zalmi have 13 points in seven matches and also have their top-four finish guaranteed following Quetta Gladiators thrashed Lahore Qalandars by six wickets here at the National Bank Stadium earlier on Friday.
The Gladiators’ victory means that Zalmi’s tally of 13 points can no longer be surpassed by the fourth-placed side by the end of the league stage.
Zalmi started their PSL 11 campaign with a commanding five-wicket win over debutants Rawalpindiz in the high-scoring game, while rain washed out their subsequent fixture in Lahore against Islamabad United.
The 2017 champions then recorded consecutive wins over Hyderabad Kingsmen, Karachi Kings, defending champions Qalandars, Multan Sultans and the Gladiators, respectively, to win their top spot.
Zalmi’s will play their next match against the Gladiators on Sunday, before they head back to Lahore, where they will be locking horns with the Kings and home side Qalandars on April 22 and 25, respectively.
It is pertinent to mention that after Zalmi’s guaranteed top-four finish, all seven remaining sides remain in the race to make it to the playoffs.
