Qalandars take on Zalmi in key HBL PSL X clash

The historic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is all set to come alive tonight as it hosts its first HBL PSL match of the season, featuring a thrilling encounter between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi.

Both teams have played four matches each with Qalandars having won two of them while Zalmi have secured a single victory.

The real battle will be between Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, especially considering that the latter has been struggling for runs this season.

After scoring just three runs in three games, Babar eventually found some touch against Karachi Kings by scoring a 41-ball 46 to give hope to his supporters although Zalmi lost that game by two wickets after sensational fight at National Stadium Karachi.

Zalmi have been quite inconsistent in their performance both with the bat and ball. They tasted a massive 80-run defeat at the hands of Quetta Gladiators in their opener when chasing 217, they were skittled out for 136 with Saim Ayub scoring a 38-ball 50.

Zalmi then were mauled by Islamabad United by a huge margin of 102 runs. United posted 243-5 and in response Zalmi were folded for 141 with stumper Mohammad Haris hammering a 57-ball 87.

Following two back-to-back defeats Zalmi eventually got some rhythm when they inflicted a record-breaking 120-run defeat on Multan Sultans in Pindi.

Powered by Tom Kohler-Cadmore (52), Mohammad Haris (45) and Abdul Samad's magical 14-ball 40 Zalmi posted 227-7.

Young speedster Ali Raza (4-21) produced best figures of his career to skittle Sultans out well before the target. This was the largest victory in terms of runs in the PSL history.

And in their last show against Karachi Kings which the latter won by just two wickets Zalmi again showed some resolve but were unlucky not to secure their second win.

Zalmi were restricted to 147-8 on a tricky track with Babar top-scoring 46. Kings achieved it with just three balls to spare after losing eight wickets in the process.

Luke Wood bowled tightly and finished with 3-26. Ali Raza once again remained impressive with 2-32 in four overs.

"We will be looking to put up a good show against Qalandars. As a team we have to raise our game and inshaAllah Zalmi will be do that against the Qalandars," Zalmi keeper Mohammad Haris told media at the LCCA Ground on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Qalandars, the 2022 and 2023 champions, will be looking to stage a fightback following a 33-run loss against Multan Sultans in their previous show at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

With four points in their pocket Qalandars will be playing at their own backyard and it means they would be backed by their fans who are excited to see their matches.

Qalandars did not have a fine start to the tournament as they were mauled by Islamabad United by eight wickets in their opener in Pindi.

Qalandars could muster only 139 all out and United chased the target in the 18th over thanks to Colin Munro (59*) and Agha Salman’s (41*) fine batting.

However, they staged a comeback by demolishing Quetta Gladiators by 79 runs in Pindi. Fakhar Zaman (67) and Sam Billings (50* off 19 balls) shepherded them to 219-6. And then Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain (3-31), Shaheen Afridi (2-20) and Sikandar Raza (2-12) skittled Gladiators out for 140.

Qalandars then defeated Kings in Karachi by 65 runs. They defended the 202-run target thanks to three wickets apiece from Shaheen and Rishad Hossain as they folded Kings for 136 only.

But Qalandars went down to Sultans by 33 runs after they were restricted to 195-9 while chasing a huge total of 229.

It would be interesting to see how both teams deliver as they are in dire need of a fightback in the tournament.