LQ vs IU Match Preview
The Lahore Qalandars possess one of the most formidable pace bowling line-ups in the league and will depend on it to achieve success. Spearheading the attack with the new ball will be Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was among the top 5 wicket-takers in the previous edition. He will be supported by Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, and Mohammad Irfan.
Since Rashid Khan will not be available for the entire season, the spin bowling department appears to heavily rely on Sikandar Raza, who is included in the squad as an all-rounder. With the absence of players like Shai Hope and Rassie van der Dussen, the batting line-up seems to be a weak point for the Qalandars.
Now, the team will heavily depend on the performances of Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique. In the absence of quality international talent, the middle order also appears to be weak.
Islamabad appears to have achieved the ideal combination of local and international talent. The batting lineup is composed of T20 specialists from various countries, such as Jordan Cox, Alex Hales, and Colin Munro. They will join forces with Azam Khan and Agha Salman to ensure the team achieves a winning score.
Furthermore, the squad boasts exceptional all-rounders like Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, and Tom Curran, who possess extensive experience in the shortest format of the game. The seam attack will be spearheaded by Pakistan international Naseem Shah, with support from Tymall Mills, Rumman Raees, and Matthew Forde.
However, similar to the Qalandars, Islamabad will heavily rely on their all-rounders to excel in the spin department.
Weather Report
The weather forecast for this match is excellent. The weather will be warm and there will be no interruptions due to rain.
Pitch Report
The pitch at Lahore is good to bat on in the first half. There is a good amount of bounce and pace on offer and the batsmen will be able to play their shots. The quicker bowlers will need to be accurate with their line and length. The average first-inning score here is around 185.
Notable stats
Azam Khan: Ready To Step Up
Azam Khan is known for his explosive brand of batting in the PSL. In his last 9 outings, Azam Khan has scored 238 runs at an average of 39.67 and a strike rate of 161.90.
Team News
There are no updates regarding injuries from either side.
LQ vs IU Probable 11
LQ Playing 11
- Fakhar Zaman
- Mirza Baig
- Abdullah Shafique (Wk)
- Kamran Ghulam
- Sikandar Raza
- Dan Lawrence
- David Weise
- Muhammad Imran
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (C)
- Haris Rauf
- Zaman Khan
IU Playing 11
- Alex Hales
- Colin Munro
- Haider Ali
- Azam Khan (Wk)
- Shadab Khan (C)
- Imad Wasim
- Faheem Ashraf
- Obed McCoy
- Naseem Shah
- Hunain Shah
- Tymal Mills
Dream11 Prediction
We are backing Islamabad United to win this match. They have a stronger squad on paper with quite a few quality all-rounders who tilt the balance in their favor. On the other hand, the Lahore Qalandars are likely to miss out on some of the top performers from the previous season.
Top Picks
Shaheen Shah Afridi: Afridi is the leading wicket-taker for the Lahore Qalandars. He has picked up 89 wickets to date at an average of 20.85.
Imad Wasim: Imad Wasim is a quality all-rounder who has picked up 51 wickets in his PSL career and has also scored 1086 runs.
Fakhar Zaman: Fakhar Zaman has scored 2368 runs in his PSL career at an average of 31.57.
LQ vs IU Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: A Khan
Batters: A Hales, F Zaman, C Munro, A Shafique
All-rounders: S Khan, I Wasim (C), S Raza (VC)
Bowlers: S Afridi, N Shah, H Rauf
