PSL Cricket Match Prediction 2024 | Match 01 | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United – Can defending champions LAH beat ISL in the first match of the season? | Feb 17

Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Match Analysis

Starting on Saturday night in Lahore, Qalandars will play Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League. Last year, Qalandars won the competition after taking first place in the group stage. In 2023, Islamabad United placed fourth overall and third in the group. On Saturday, February 17, at 19:00 local time, the Gaddafi Stadium will open the competition.

Last season, Lahore Qalandars became the first team to successfully defend their PSL title, and they now aim to win three straights! They have yet another talented set of players, therefore we expect them to start strong.

Although they had a weak finish to the previous season’s competition, Islamabad United has a strong roster for this one. They could not have asked for a more formidable foe to start their season against, though, and they might find it difficult to compete.

Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Team Preview & Squads

Lahore Qalandars

The current champions, Lahore Qalandars, are optimistic about another fruitful season. The trio of left-arm pacer and skipper Shaheen Afridi, stylish batsman Fakhar Zaman, and T20 master Rashid Khan carried them to victory the previous season. Unfortunately, Rashid Khan’s back surgery hasn’t healed in time, therefore he won’t be able to play in this year’s competition, creating an untenable gap in the spin bowling division.

However, Sikandar Raza, an accomplished all-rounder from Zimbabwe, and Syed Faridoun, a young spinner with promise who played just once for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL’21, could provide some cover. The Lahore Qalandar think tank made a major splash in the 2024 draft, drafting English all-rounder Dan Lawrence, hard-hitting Sri Lankan batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Proteas batsman Rassie van der Dussen, among other notable names from the T20 circuit.

With players like Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and rising pacer Zaman Khan, their pace bowling ranks are quite strong; nonetheless, the team management used the draft to add Mohammed Imran Junior to bolster their pace stocks. Their team appears well-rounded overall, with plenty of hitting power throughout the lineup and a strong heavyweight bowling section that has multiple foreign players.

Lahore Qalandars Squads

Lahore Qalandars

Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Shai Hope (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Rassie van der Dussen, Mirza Baig, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Zaman Khan, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, and Syed Faridoun.

Islamabad United

This season, if anything about Islamabad United stood out, it would be their balance. The batsmanship of spin twins Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim gives their batting an amazing depth. Traveling T20 franchise player Alex Hales enters the PSL after his success in the BBL and ILT20, with Colin Munro of the Desert Vipers expected to support him at the top. Hales is ahead of his time in repetition, but occasionally he may be a touch erratic with the bat. Azam Khan, a formidable six-hitter, and Haider Ali, another young local talent, have been drafted into the team to support the batting unit.

The two-time champions boast a formidable combination of domestic and foreign talent, with Naseem Shah returning to action following a protracted injury absence and Tymal Mills and Obed McCoy forming a formidable left-arm speed tandem. With players like Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim, the bowling assault appears extremely skilled and diverse.

While the team appears to have every position covered, Alex Hales, Tymal Mills, and Naseem Shah are the key players whose actions will determine the fate of United.

Islamabad United Squads

Islamabad United

Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Colin Munro, Qasim Akram, Imad Wasim, Agha Salman, Hunain Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Tymal Mills, and Rumman Raees.

Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United outfield report

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

In the six championship games of the previous season, Lahore Qalandars won the toss and elected to bat first. Therefore, if either team wins the toss before this game, we anticipate that they will choose to bat first. For the whole of Saturday night in Lahore, clear skies are predicted. With a high of mid-teens, the humidity will be above 60% throughout the day.

Usually, this is fast, bounce-y, and carry pitch. In this first game, there might be some extra help for the quick bowlers, but a par score of 190+ is what we anticipate.

Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

Lahore Qalandars have won all their last five encounters.

Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Prediction

Winning the toss

• Lahore Qalandars

Player of the Match

• Lahore Qalandars – Fakhar Zaman

Most runs

• Lahore Qalandars – Fakhar Zaman
• Islamabad United – Colin Munro

Most wickets

• Lahore Qalandars – Haris Rauf
• Islamabad United – Faheem Ashraf

Most sixes

• Lahore Qalandars – Fakhar Zaman
• Islamabad United – Colin Munro

Team Scores Batting First

• Lahore Qalandars – 195+
• Islamabad United – 185+

According to cricket analysts, Lahore Qalandars has a 52.7% chance of winning.

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