The 17th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Rawalpindi features a thrilling contest between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi. Both teams have displayed outstanding form this season, but Lahore has failed to win any games this season.
Let’s dissect the upcoming match, analyze whether captain Shaheen Shah Afridi can recover from their deplorable position, alter the cricket predictions, and bring Lahore to victory for the first time this season.
Lahore Qalandars, the defending champions, and two-time championship holders, are facing a difficult season as they sit at the bottom of the standings with no points after six straight losses. The club, captained by seasoned Shaheen Shah Afridi, has a dynamic squad that combines youth and experience, but they can't seem to connect this season.
Despite their problems, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi's tough bowling has been a standout, as he continues to make important contributions with the ball. Rassie van der Dussen's batting is on form, with a brilliant 104 (52) innings against Peshawar in the 12th match of the season. However, they also lost that game.
Rassie van der Dussen stands out to be the best batter for the Lahore Qalandars in the upcoming game, according to our expert cricket tips. His aggressive starting position and ability to play lengthy innings make him a crucial player.
With an affinity for taking on bowlers from the very beginning, R. van der Dussen's recent performances have been remarkable. His magnificent 104 (52) innings against Peshawar last week was the game's high point.
Top Batter Stats - Recent Matches
Known for his deadly swing and pace, Shaheen Shah Afridi one of the key bowlers and captain stands out as the best bowling prospect for Lahore Qalandars. In their last two matches, Afridi took 3 wickets against Peshawar and 2 wickets against the Sultans.
Afridi has consistently been among the wickets, providing early breakthroughs and choking runs. His role will be pivotal in restricting Peshawar Zalmi’s batting lineup.
Top Bowler Stats - Recent Matches
In the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Peshawar Zalmi has performed admirably, especially driven by the standout performances of key players like Babar Azam, who in the last match led the team to a victory over Islamabad United by scoring an unforgettable century (111 runs).
The team's batting lineup, which has strong middle-order batsmen like Asif Ali and top-order players like Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris, is what essentially makes them formidable. The lack of Gus Atkinson and Naveen-ul-Haq for the whole season has revealed weaknesses in Peshawar Zalmi's pace attack, which is highly dependent on players like Luke Wood and Arif Yaqoob, who claimed five wickets in the most recent game.
Babar Azam is undoubtedly the best batter in the team, having demonstrated his capability to score crucial runs and lead the team from the front.
He is the captain of the Peshawar's team and is currently the top run scorer in the tournament so far. It’s the safest betting odds for cricket that Babar Azam is likely to end up as the best batter in the upcoming match.
Top Batter Stats - Recent Matches
It's anticipated that Naveen-ul-Haq will be the best bowler for the upcoming game. He's been picking up 2-1 wickets in the last 3 games that Peshawar won and Naveen-ul-Haq's performance in critical moments of the game, particularly highlighted in their match against Multan Sultans, showcases his importance to the team's bowling lineup.
Top Bowler Stats - Recent Matches
Babar Azam is most likely to be awarded the player of the match title because as a captain and opening batsman, his contribution has been the key to Peshawar's victory this season.
Given the form and contributions of Babar Azam and Naveen-ul-Haq, either could significantly impact the game, potentially earning the player of the match title if Peshawar Zalmi performs well.
Based on past trends, the best toss prediction for today is that the winning team might prefer to field first. Considering the afternoon rain factor at Rawalpindi, the game can be settled through the DLS method. The team in the lead should choose to field first and try to minimize run target for an easy DLS win.
The 17th PSL match has been scheduled to begin somewhat earlier, around 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 2nd, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The weather on matchday should be quite windy and chilly with rain showers. The probability of precipitation is 82% around the afternoon when the match is expected to begin, with 88% cloud coverage.
Expect up to 10 hours of precipitation on matchday. It will be a rainy day in general, with humidity reaching 77% in the afternoon. There are obvious signals and a high likelihood of match interruption for this game. The match can be resolved via the DLS technique or abandoned altogether.
Peshawar Zalmi has the highest chance of winning this 17th game of the season versus Lahore Qalandars, according to our in-game analysis.
PSZ will benefit from a little advantage over LHQ given their balance and form, because of their depth in both batting and bowling departments, and their reliable performance. Another element is the presence of Babar Azam, the tournament's current leader in total runs.