The Stats Zone
· Tom

PSL 2018 – Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Preview

Post Share

When? Friday 2nd March

Where? Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Weather? Sunshine forecast with temperatures of 24-26c

What channel is it on? Prime TV

Where can I stream the match? Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United can be streamed online via http://www.primetv.tv/watch_live.html

Are tickets still available? Ticket information for all PSL 2018 fixtures can be found on https://www.q-tickets.com/psl2018/eventslist.aspx

HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Lahore Qalanders W2, Islamabad United W2

LAHORE QALANDARS

Coach: Aqib Javed

Captain: Brendon McCullum

  • The Qalandars are the only team without a win in PSL 2018 after losing all three matches so the pressure is mounting on them to get a win otherwise they will remain the only team to have played all three editions and not made the play-offs in any of them.
  • Following losses to the Sultans, Gladiators and Kings, the Qalandars have been receiving all kinds of criticism with the latest being ambassador Shoaib Ahktar who has heavily criticised coach Aqib Talib and skipper Brendon McCullum so the pressure is on.
  • The club have moved to sign South African pace bowler Kyle Abbott for the rest of the competition due to Chris Lynn’s injury and as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman’s forthcoming absence as he joins the Bangladeshi national team.

ISLAMABAD UNITED

Coach: Dean Jones

Captain: Misbah-ul-Haq

  • Islamabad United were comprehensively beaten in their first game since the tournament moved to Sharjah by the Quetta Gladiators and with just one win from three matches under their belt, they need a win to keep up with the top four positions.
  • Pace bowler Rumman Raees had to be stretchered off the pitch on Wednesday after he slid awkwardly saving a boundary and injured his knee but scans have shown no major damage but he will miss a couple of matches as a precautionary measure.
  • Against the Gladiators, JP Duminy came into the side for his season debut but laboured to 14 from 26 balls, so there is pressure on him to raise his game for a batting line-up that needs to improve their strike rate all round.

PREDICTION
The Qalandars are simply in must-win territory now to have any chance of making the final four but Islamabad cannot afford another slip-up at the moment themselves. A great deal of the criticism about the Qalandars has focused on their selections in the auction and how poorly the team has been formulated and much of that is true. It is difficult to see them winning many games unless one of their top four or five batsmen hits a huge score. Otherwise, the imbalance in the side will make it difficult for them to win many matches and Islamabad have to be favoured to get the win here.

TSZ Latest