United Possess a Narrow Advantage in Head-to-Head Battles Against Qalandars with 11 Wins

LAHORE: In the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Eliminator 2, held at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, Lahore Qalandars, playing on their home ground, won the toss and decided to bat first against the defending champions, Islamabad United.

Squads

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Fakhar Zaman, Kusal Perera, Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, Abdullah Shafique, Zaman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Muhammad Akhlaq, Momin Qamar (E), Mohammad Azab (E), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Naeem (E).

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both platinum), Azam Khan and Imad Wasim (both diamond), Haider Ali, Salman Ali Agha and Ben Dwarshuis (all gold), Rumman Raees, Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Irshad (all silver), Hunain Shah and Saad Masood (both emerging), Mohammad Faiq, Sahibzada Farhan, Muhammad Shahzad, Alex Hales, Rassie van der Dussen, James Neesham, Tymal Mills and Riley Meredith (all supplementary).

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since the league’s inception in 2016, these two teams have clashed on 21 occasions. Islamabad United holds a marginal lead, having secured 11 victories, while Lahore Qalandars have emerged victorious in 10 matches.

  • Matches: 21
  • Islamabad United: 11
  • Lahore Qalandars: 10
FORM GUIDE

Both teams approach this crucial match with differing recent form. The Qalandars are buoyed by a recent six-wicket triumph over their rivals Karachi Kings, while United are coming off a 30-run defeat at the hands of Quetta Gladiators in the Qualifier held on Wednesday.

Furthermore, the defending champions have managed only one victory in their past five encounters, whereas the Qalandars have suffered just one loss in their last five outings, with one game ending without a result.

Lahore Qalandars: W, W, L, NR, W (most recent first)

Islamabad United: L, W, L, L, L