The tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League is set to begin on Friday with a blockbuster showdown between defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars in the opening match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. Lahore Qalandars, who have won two PSL titles, will look to set the foundation for a historic title hat-trick, having won it back-to-back in 2022 and 2023. However, they had a disappointing last season, capping off their campaign at the bottom of the table with just 1 win in 10 matches.
But this year, Qalandars, who are packed with a galaxy of stars with the presence of Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, Fakhar Zaman Abdullah Shafique and Daryl Mitchell, will eye a winning start to the season to set the tone for the rest of the tournament. Under the leadership of Shaheen Afridi and with the help of fiery performers, Qalandars will look to seize crucial moments to assert their authority.
Islamabad United, who have claimed the PSL title three times, will look to maintain their dominance. Under the leadership of Shadab Khan, Islamabad United boast an explosive bowling and batting attack. Their top order is stacked with skilled performers such as Colin Munro, Rassie van der Dussen and Matthew Short, who are well capable of single-handedly creating havoc in the opposition camp.
And, their middle order is well-equipped with all-rounders Salman Agha, Jason Holder, Azam Khan and captain Shadab Khan. Their batting, which lacks no depth, will be more crucial in determining their success in the tournament. Meanwhile, their bowling contingent is also rock-solid, with Naseem Shah leading the charge, along with Ben Dwarshuis and Riley Meredith. They are the most successful side with three PSL titles.
Head to head:
Matches - 19
Islamabad won - 10
Lahore won - 9
Lahore Qalandars probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Asif Ali, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi (c), Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Rishad Hossain, Zaman Khan
Islamabad United probable XI: Colin Munro, Sahibzada Farhan, Matthew Short, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan (C), Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Ben Dwarshuis, Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah, Riley Meredith