Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars are all set to lock horns in the 17th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, on Saturday.
Two-time PSL champions Lahore Qalandars find themselves reverting to their pre-2020 form, when they consistently occupied the bottom of the points table. The defending champions' hopes for a third consecutive title have been dashed after enduring six consecutive defeats.
The absence of spin maestro Rashid Khan has proven to be more detrimental to the team than initially anticipated. Adding to their woes, Haris Rauf was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a shoulder dislocation.
It's evident that Shaheen Afridi is lacking the necessary strong support to revive the team's fortunes.
In contrast, Peshawar Zalmi sit comfortably in third place on the points table, having secured victories in three out of their five matches.
While Babar Azam and his opening partner Saim Ayub have displayed stellar performances, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris has failed to meet expectations, tallying just 46 runs in five appearances at an average of 11.5.
Considering Peshawar Zalmi's three-match winning streak, they are likely to stick with their winning combination for the upcoming game. Therefore, despite a subdued season with the bat, Haris may receive another opportunity to prove himself.
Pitch report
As the venue moves from Karachi to Pindi, high-scoring encounters can also be expected as Pindi’s pitch is known as “heaven for batters”. The pitch will overall favour batters, however it will provide early assistance to the pacers with the new ball.
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.