The 8th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) will see Lahore Qalandars take on Multan Sultans inside the qualifier, the winner of which will gain direct entry into the March 19, marquee final on the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Express Tribune appears at all of the things so as to be counted while the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led 2022 champions face the 2022 runners-up and 2021 HBL PSL champions, who are captained with the aid of keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.Lahore Qalandars started their HBL PSL journey with none actual firepower in their gadget and ended at the ultimate spots consecutively in the first two editions. However, their belief of their expertise identification marketing campaign, which ran for the duration of the yr, helped them unearth future stars.
Today, beneath Shaheen’s capable leadership, Lahore are the team to conquer in terms of HBL PSL, and they bagged 14 points out of the 20 on provide to prove it, from the 10 league fits. Winning seven and losing 3, of them against arch-competitors Karachi Kings, has positioned Lahore on a patch to efficaciously protect their name this 12 months, some thing no other crew has been able to do.
However, we’ve seen the amazing fall on many occasions in the course of the playoffs, and Lahore have lost out in their closing three group matches, reeking of inconsistency as they cross into the playoff stage.
And the most important hurdle in Lahore’s course to shield their crown changed into to be offered via the extraordinarily-consistent Multan Sultans. They made certain they ended on the second one spot, accumulating the chance to gain direct access into the very last and put Lahore on a longer direction in the event that they need to raise the made over HBL PSL trophy for season eight.Multan are the learners in the HBL PSL because the league started with only five groups. They won’t be able to match the enjoy of other franchises, however they’ve handed the fulfillment rate of any crew via making it to the very last in the remaining versions.
Led via Rizwan, Multan have bagged 12 factors, equal as Islamabad United however with a better run-charge, from the league section marketing campaign, winning six and losing 4 fits. Their enjoy of qualifying after which appearing well in massive suits will provide them a bonus over Lahore while the day of the qualifier comes around.
Head to head
The easy reality is Multan have accomplished their worst against Lahore, in comparison to other warring parties within the HBL PSL.
In their final 5 conferences, Multan have misplaced on four occasions, displaying their weak spot in opposition to the flowery Lahore aspect. In the 2022 edition, Multan’s most a success campaign wherein they gained nine out of their 10 fits in the organization campaign, Rizwan and co faced Lahore thrice, misplaced to them twice.
In the continuing season, Multan additionally haven’t been capable of surpass the Lahore mission till now. But the playoffs offer a extraordinary setting and it could come right down to who performs higher cricket on the day.
The toss
Interestingly, of their final 5 encounters, the group protecting a complete has always received when Multan confronted Lahore.
In the primary institution in shape in 2022, Lahore won by 52 runs, while Multan received the next institution match by using 28 runs. The final of the 2022 version noticed Multan leave out the mark by 42 runs, giving Lahore their first-ever HBL PSL champions identify.
This year too, Qalandars have beaten Multan twice with the aid of putting up a complete after which protecting it with their global-class bowling, which incorporates captain Shaheen, pacers Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan and ace Afghan spinner Rashid Khan.
Considering the suits that have took place in Lahore during the league section, the toss may also over again play an essential role in determining which group will pass to the very last at once. Winner of the toss may be in reality batting first and defending a goal.