PSL 2022 | Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi | Match 30 Preview, Predictions, Fantasy XI

The juggernaut of the round-robin stage of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will culminate on Monday evening (February 21, 2022) when Lahore Qalandars take on Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

With Islamabad United eliminating  Quetta Gladiators on superior net run-rate, the top-4 has been decided but this game will hold a lot of importance for both these sides as they aim to finish in the top-two.

Having won 1 more game and at an extremely superior NRR (+0.852) as compared to Peshawar Zalmi's minus 0.381, Lahore Qalandars are primed for the top-two finish, unless they lose by 110+ runs in their last group fixture.

The Qalandars have won three of their last four fixtures and they will come into this game after having obliterated Islamabad United by a whopping 66 runs.

The victory was set-up by opener Fakhar Zaman (51 off 41 deliveries) and young English swashbuckler, Harry Brook, who hammered a brutal 49-ball 102 (S/R: 208.16) with the help of 10 fours and 5 sixes.

The Qalandars eventually ended up with 197/6; a total which proved to be more than enough thanks to an all-round bowling performance. They will, however, miss superstar spin-bowling all-rounder, Rashid Khan in their remaining games. Samit Patel is likely to replace him.

Peshawar Zalmi, on the other hand, will come into the game after having won three consecutive matches but if they have to pip Lahore for the 2nd spot, the Wahab Riaz-led unit will have to beat Lahore by at least 110 runs.

Young opener Mohammad Haris was the prime spearhead in Peshawar's victory in the last game. The right-handed 20-year-old batsman smashed a rapid 32-ball 70; an innings studded with 7 fours and 5 sixes.

The Zalmi eventually posted 8-206 and despite a sensational knock from Azam Khan, they managed to claim a 10-wicket victory thanks to the pace bowling duo of Riaz (2/16 in 4 overs) and Salman Irshad (2/29 in 3 overs).

Last time these two sides met, Lahore clinched the high-scoring fixture by 29 runs thanks to a three-wicket haul by Zaman Khan.

If Peshawar Zalmi don't win by more than 110, then they will finish at the 3rd spot and will face Islamabad United in the Eliminator on February 24th.

Match Details - Lahore Qalandars vs Peshawar Zalmi, PSL 2022

Date: 21st February 2022

Time: 08:00 PM IST

Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Broadcast: Sony Six, Sony Six HD, SonyLiV app and website

Pitch Report: Win toss, bat first and apply scoreboard pressure seems to be the order of the day during the Lahore leg of the season.

The average 1st innings score in the last 10 completed night games at the Gaddafi Stadium is 173, with chasing teams winning just four of them. 

Squads:

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Abdullah Shafique, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Sohail Akhtar, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ahmed Daniyal, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Kamran Ghulam, Dean Foxcroft, Zaman Khan, Maaz Khan, Samit Patel, Syed Faridoun

Peshawar Zalmi: Wahab Riaz (c), Liam Livingstone, Shoaib Malik, Sherfane Rutherford, Haider Ali, Saqib Mahmood, Hussain Talat, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Qadir, Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal, Sameen Gul, Kamran Akmal, Sirajuddin, Mohammad Amir Khan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Umar. 

Probable Playing XI:

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Phil Salt (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hafeez, Harry Brook, Sohail Akhtar, David Wiese, Samit Patel, Shaheen Afridi (C), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.

Peshawar Zalmi: Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Haris (WK), Yasir Khan, Shoaib Malik, Sherfane Rutherford, Liam Livingstone, Ben Cutting, Hussain Talat, Wahab Riaz (C), Usman Qadir, Salman Irshad

CE Fantasy XI: Mohammad Haris (WK), Fakhar Zaman, Hazratullah Zazai, Shoaib Malik, Harry Brook, Hussain Talat, Sherfane Rutherford, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Qadir, Salman Irshad

Captain: Fakhar Zaman

Vice-captain: Mohammad Haris