PSL 10: Lahore Qalandars win toss, bat first against Islamabad United in 2nd Qualifier

Lahore (Web Desk): Lahore Qalandars won the toss and chose to bat first against Islamabad United in the second Eliminator of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Friday.

Both teams, seasoned champions of the PSL with Lahore holding two titles and Islamabad three, are vying for a coveted spot in the grand final against Quetta Gladiators, scheduled for May 25.

Since the inception of the league in 2016, the two sides have locked horns 21 times, with Islamabad United holding a narrow lead—winning 11 of those encounters, while Lahore Qalandars have claimed 10 victories.

Islamabad United enter the match with a power-packed batting lineup featuring Colin Munro, Rassie van der Dussen, and Sahibzada Farhan—all of whom have been instrumental throughout the season. Sahibzada, in particular, has been in exceptional form, topping the PSL 10 scoring charts with 446 runs in 11 matches at an average of 40.54 and an explosive strike rate of 153.79. His tally includes three fifties and a century.

Beyond PSL, Sahibzada also leads all T20 batters in 2025 with a remarkable 1,051 runs in 18 matches, averaging 65.68 with a strike rate of 172.57.

On the bowling front, Islamabad rely heavily on their spin duo—captain Shadab Khan and all-rounder Imad Wasim—who have taken 14 and 13 wickets respectively this season. Shadab has historically been a major threat to Qalandars, amassing 22 wickets and 313 runs against them across PSL seasons. Munro, too, has been effective with 213 runs against Lahore.

For Lahore, Fakhar Zaman remains a key weapon at the top of the order. He is second on the PSL 10 run-scorers list with 416 runs in 11 games, boasting a strike rate of 156.39 and four half-centuries. His record against Islamabad is particularly strong, with 498 runs and a highest score of 115.

In the bowling department, Lahore boast a formidable pace trio in Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Zaman Khan. Rauf and Afridi lead the wicket-taking charts against Islamabad with 15 each, while Zaman follows closely with 13 wickets.

Another player drawing attention is Abdullah Shafique, who played a match-winning knock of 65 off 35 balls in the Eliminator against Karachi Kings. He has tallied 324 runs in 11 games at a strike rate of 153.55, including three fifties.

As anticipation builds for this high-stakes clash, fans can expect fireworks from both ends, with a place in the PSL 10 final hanging in the balance.

Teams

Lahore Qalandars:

 Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Fakhar Zaman, Kusal Perera, Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, Abdullah Shafique, Zaman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Muhammad Akhlaq, Momin Qamar (E), Mohammad Azab (E), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Naeem (E).

Islamabad United:

Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah , Azam Khan and Imad Wasim , Haider Ali, Salman Ali Agha and Ben Dwarshuis , Rumman Raees, Mohammad Nawaz and Salman Irshad , Hunain Shah and Saad Masood , Mohammad Faiq, Sahibzada Farhan, Muhammad Shahzad, Alex Hales, Rassie van der Dussen, James Neesham, Tymal Mills and Riley Meredith .