On Saturday, Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars will play the 17th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. Lahore Qalandars, two-time PSL champions, are back to their pre-2020 trend of finishing last.
Peshawar Zalmi vs Lahore Qalandars: PSL 9 preview, prediction, lineups
After six straight losses, the defending champions’ dreams of a third crown are gone. The team has suffered more than expected without spin master Rashid Khan. Haris Rauf’s shoulder dislocation sidelined him for the season, compounding their problems.
Shaheen Afridi lacks the support to turn the squad around. In contrast, Peshawar Zalmi are comfortably third on the points standings after winning three of five matches. Babar Azam and Saim Ayub have excelled, but wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris has struggled, scoring 46 runs in five games at 11.5.
Peshawar Zalmi’s three-match winning streak suggests they’ll keep with their successful formula. Haris may have another chance to establish himself despite a lacklustre season at bat.
Pitch report
Report on the pitch As the games move from Karachi to Pindi, expect high-scoring games as well, since Pindi’s pitch is known as “heaven for batters.” Overall, the pitch will help the hitters, but with the new ball, it will help the pacers early on.
Probable Lineups
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (C), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (WK), Haseebullah, Rovman Powell, Asif Ali, Paul Walter, Luke Wood, Naveen-ul-Haq, Arif Yaqoob, Salman Irshad
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Sikandar Raza, George Linde, Carlos Brathwaite, Jahandad Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Zaman Khan
Prediction:
Nothing has gone Lahore’s way in the PSL 9 so far, and the same can be expected as Shaheen Afridi’s troops will take on in-form Babar Azam and his men. Peshawar Zalmi remain the clear favourite to win the tie.
