PSL 2023 Eliminator 2 match preview: Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 PSL

What's the match?

Lahore Qalandars take on Peshawar Zalmi in the second eliminator in PSL8.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 7pm local time (2pm GMT) on Friday, March 17.

Where is the match being played?

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore will play host to this fixture.

Who's got the form?

Lahore Qalandars have a second chance to reach the PSL final. The defending champions finished top of the table in the group stages, winning seven matches from a possible 10, but fluffed their lines against Multan Sultans in Wednesday's qualifier, losing by 84 runs after being bowled out for just 76. The Qalandars have now lost three of their past four matches in PSL8.

Peshawar Zalmi booked their spot in the second eliminator with a 12-run victory over Islamabad United. Babar Azam's side finished fourth in the group stages after winning five and losing five of their 10 matches.

When these two sides met earlier in the competition, they shared the spoils. Lahore Qalandars won the first encounter by 40 runs while Zalmi completed a 35-run win in the second meeting.

What's the key match-up?

The usually free-scoring Qalandars have struggled for runs in their past two outings, scoring 76 runs against Multan Sultans and 110 runs against Karachi Kings.

On both occasions, the Qalandars lost at least three wickets in the powerplay while left-arm pace has also proved effective. Sheldon Cottrell struck three times in the powerplay for the Sultans, finishing with 3 for 20, while Akif Javed returned figures of 2 for 8 from three overs for the Kings, including removing two of the top three.

Could the stage be set for left-armers Jimmy Neesham and Wahab Riaz to star with the ball? Neesham has taken six wickets in seven outings for Zalmi while Riaz has a team-leading nine wickets.

Babar Azam has scored 480 runs, including one century and five half-centuries, for Zalmi [Arif Ali/Getty Images]

What is the team news?

Despite their recent poor form, it's hard to see Lahore Qalandars tinkering with their squad - seven players have featured in at least 10 matches in PSL8.

Neither side has any new injury or availability news.

What are the squads?

Lahore Qalandars: Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, David Wiese, Abdullah Shafique, Harry Brook, Kamran Ghulam, Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Liam Dawson, Dilbar Hussain, Mirza Tahir Baig, Ahmed Danlyal, Shawaiz Irfan, Jordan Cox, Jalat Khan, Ahsan Bhatti, Sam Billings (partial replacement for Rashid Khan), Shane Dadswell (replacement for Harry Brook), Kusal Mendis (partial replacement for Jordan Cox), Shai Hope (replacement for Kusal Mendis)

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Sherfane Rutherford, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal, Salman Irshad, Tom-Kohler Cadmore, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rovman Powell, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal, Saim Ayub, Usman Qadir, Suifyan Muqeem, Haseeb Ullah, Jimmy Neesham, Khurram Shahzad, Haris Sohail, Richard Gleeson (partial replacement for Rovman Powell), Peter Hatzoglou (partial replacement for Mujeeb ur Rahman), Shakib Al Hasan (available until February 26)

*squads are for the overall competition and not specific to this match

What are the possible starting XIs?

Lahore Qalandars: Mirza Baig, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

Peshawar Zalmi: Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Haris, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Jimmy Neesham, Aamer Jamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Wahab Riaz, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Salman Irshad

What is the weather forecast?

Afternoon rain could disrupt this fixture while temperatures are expected to peak in the mid-twenties.

Lahore Qalandars' batting has let them down in recent matches [Arif Ali/Getty Images]

What are the odds?

Lahore Qalandars are the favourites to reach the final, with odds of 8/11, while Peshawar Zalmi are available at 6/5.

What's the prediction?

It's almost too close to call but on gut instinct and nothing more... Lahore Qalandars win.

Where can I watch the game?

Cricket fans in Pakistan will be able to watch PSL8 on A Sports, PTV Sports and TEN Sports on TV. Streamed matches will be available on Daraz App, tapmadTV and Tamasha.

Viewers around the world can watch the action live on Fox Sports (Australia), Sony (South Asia outside Pakistan), Willow TV (North America), Flow Sports (Caribbean), Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Super Sport (sub-Saharan Africa) and, Etisalat and STARZPLAY (Mena).