• Match: Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars, 23rd Match, Pakistan Super League 2024
• Date and Time: March 6, 02:00 pm GMT / 07:30 pm IST / 07:00 pm local time
• Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Islamabad United: Islamabad United has managed to bounce back from three consecutive defeats by securing victories in two of their last three matches. They shared a washout with the Quetta Gladiators in their only non-winning result. With hopes of making it to the PSL playoffs still alive, another win in this fixture would significantly enhance their chances.

Agha Salman and Shadab Khan continue to lead Islamabad’s batting charts this season. Salman has amassed 225 runs in six innings, closely followed by Khan with 183 runs in six outings. Khan’s recent match-winning knock of 80 runs and a haul of three wickets for 41 runs against Peshawar Zalmi adds to his credentials.

Khan also leads the wicket-taking charts for Islamabad this season, claiming nine scalps in six innings. Known for his leg-spin prowess, Khan forms a formidable partnership with United’s fast bowler Naseem Shah, who has taken eight wickets in six matches. The duo is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming match.

Lahore Qalandars: In contrast, Lahore Qalandars are yet to secure a win in this PSL season, suffering six defeats and sharing one washout. While their chances of progressing to the next stage are slim, they still have a mathematical chance if they start winning matches promptly.

Rassie van der Dussen has been a standout performer with the bat for Lahore, accumulating 300 runs in six innings, including a memorable century against Zalmi. The overseas recruit has received valuable support from local talent Sahibzada Farhan.

Despite his role as a bowling captain, Shaheen Afridi’s performance with the ball remains impressive. Afridi has taken nine wickets in six matches in this year’s Pakistan Super League, establishing himself as one of the tournament’s premier left-arm fast bowlers.

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Agha Salman, Azam Khan (wk), Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hunain Shah, Rumman Raees, Naseem Shah.

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Fakhar Zaman, Rassie van der Dussen, Shai Hope, Kamran Ghulam, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Sikandar Raza, George Linde, Jahandad Khan, Salman Fayyaz, Zaman Khan.

Who will win the toss? – Lahore Qalandars
Who will win? – Islamabad United

Captain: Shadab Khan
Vice-Captain: Rassie van der Dussen

Sahibzada Farhan, Colin Munro, Alex Hales, Jahandad Khan, Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman Khan, Naseem Shah.

In the previous PSL fixture hosted at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Peshawar Zalmi chose to bowl first after winning the toss but ended up facing a defeat.

Given this recent statistic, the team winning the toss in the upcoming match may decide to bat first instead, potentially drawing insights from the outcome of the previous encounter.

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has a history of witnessing high-scoring encounters, as evidenced by Islamabad’s formidable total of 196 against Zalmi earlier in the tournament. This indicates that a score of 170 or more in the first innings can be considered competitive at this venue.