Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators will square-off in the 4th game of the ongoing PSL on 13th April at Pindi Cricket Stadium
Match Preview:
The well-rounded Quetta Gladiators, captained by the ever-composed Saud Shakeel, will enter their upcoming clash against Lahore Qalandars with plenty of confidence. They got off to a strong start in the tournament, comfortably defeating their arch-rivals Peshawar Zalmi in their opening fixture.
Much of their success will hinge on the performance of their top order and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed. Ahmed was the standout performer in the previous game, claiming four wickets for 42 runs and rightfully earning the Player of the Match award. Rilee Rossouw also remains a key figure, particularly at the Rawalpindi venue, where he thrives.
The South African batter has scored 169 runs in six matches at the ground, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 165.68. Veteran pacer Mohammad Amir adds further firepower, having picked up 11 wickets in just seven matches at Rawalpindi, with a decent economy rate of 8.69.
On the other hand, Lahore Qalandars have had a rocky start to their campaign. They suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Islamabad United, losing by eight wickets in a one-sided contest.
Their celebrated bowling lineup, featuring stars like Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, failed to make an impact, while their batting order also collapsed under pressure. Now, with their backs against the wall, the Qalandars will be desperate to bounce back and get their first points on the board.
To make matters worse, Lahore lost both of their matches against Quetta Gladiators in the previous season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, the team will be counting on experienced players like Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf to step up.
Zaman has an excellent record in this rivalry, having amassed 442 runs at a strike rate of 144.91, making him the highest run-scorer in Quetta vs Lahore clashes. Meanwhile, Rauf has taken 13 wickets against the Gladiators—the most by any bowler in this matchup—though his economy rate stands at a relatively high 9.34.
Probable Playing XI:
Quetta Gladiators
Saud Shakeel (c), Hasan Nawaz, Kusal Mendis (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Shoaib Malik, Mark Chapman, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sean Abbott, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir
Lahore Qalandars
Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Jahandad Khan, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi
Pitch and weather report:
Chasing might be the wisest course of action due to second-inning moisture and moderate humidity. The pitch will probably be level and true at first, giving batsmen pace and bounce, although it may later benefit bowlers a little bit, especially cutters and spinners.
Head-to-head record:
In PSL history, LQ and QG have met off eighteen times. Despite playing in numerous thrilling games, neither club has an advantage over the other. In their faceoff, Lahore and Quetta have each recorded nine victories and nine defeats.
Prediction:
Given how QG performed in the last game ,they are clear favourites to win the upcoming encounter
Where to Watch:
Pakistan (TV): A Sports HD, PTV Sports
Pakistan (Live Streaming): tapmad, Tamasha, Daraz, myco, bogn
UK: Sky Sports, Geo News (Sky 734)
North America: Willow
Africa: SuperSport
MENA Region: myco
Bangladesh: T Sports
India (Linear TV): Sony Sports Network
India (Digital): FanCode
Sri Lanka & Afghanistan: Sony Sports Network
Rest of the World: Sports Central
