PES VS LAH MATCH 17

Right then, that's it from match no. 17 of the ongoing PSL 2024. The next game of the tournament is scheduled for today only on the same ground between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can join us an hour early for the build-up and updates. Until then cheers and have a nice time.

ABONDONED! The game between Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars is being called off due to rain. Points are shared between the sides but it will feel like another defeat for Lahore Qalandars as they move further away from the contention of staying in the race for the playoffs. Lahore Qalandars now has just 1 point after 7 games and all they are left with is 6 more points to play after this. Peshawar Zalmi on the other hand sits on third with 7 points after 6 games and they still have 4 games left in their kitty. What promised to be an exciting contest, succumbed to rain. 

UPDATE - 4.09 pm IST (10:39 am GMT) - Nothing new from Pindi Cricket Stadium, as showers are still on with some lightning. Puddles in the outfield are quite evident making it difficult for any sort of action from this game.  The official cut-off time for a 5-over game is 5.17 pm IST (11.47 am GMT).  

UPDATE - 3.34 pm IST (10.04 am GMT) - UH-OH! The rain is back and so are the covers. Just when it all looked good to kickstart the game, the clouds opened again and it is pelting down in Rawalpindi. With a covering of dark clouds and the intensity with which it is raining provided it's a double header at the same ground. The chances of play look very slim in this game now. Fingers crossed though, stay tuned for further updates. 

UPDATE - 3.17 pm IST (9.47 am GMT) - We don't have an update with the revised conditions as of now but we can see the likes of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi assessing the pitch and the players from both sides going through their pre-match drills. Stay tuned for an update as it might well be around the horizon. 

Waqar Younis is pitchside. He says that the pitch is a little damp. Continues that it might help the pacers if they concentrate on their lines and lengths. Adds that if they pitch the ball up, they will get some hits from the batters. 

UPDATE - 2.35 pm IST (9.05 am GMT) - There is no sign of rain but there will be another inspection at 3.00 pm IST (9:30 am GMT). The groundmen are working hard to fix the patches as soon as possible. Stay tuned to get future updates!

UPDATE - 2.29 pm IST (8.59 am GMT) - The rain has stopped completely but the umpires are not entirely happy with the state of the ground. They are worried about a few patches in the run-up of the bowlers that might prove dangerous for the players so they have instructed the ground staff to repair them. 

UPDATE - 2.15 pm IST (8.45 am GMT) - Good news folks! The rain has stopped in Rawalpindi and it all looks a lot brighter now with the covers coming off. The cover protecting the surface is still firmly placed. It's been raining overnight in Rawalpindi and hence the ground staff is out working to prepare the ground well providing proper playing conditions. The umpires are out as well for an inspection. 

UPDATE - 2.07 pm IST (8.37 am GMT) -  The toss is delayed due to rain. 

On the other hand, the season is turning out to be a nightmare for the defending champions. Lahore Qalandars is still struggling to find their first win to open the book in the points table. Rassie van der Dussen is the only batter from the unit to perform consistently but the team is failing to provide support. But by hook or by crook the team has to buckle up and pull up their socks as they need to win the match to make a statement and answer the critics. Shaheen Afridi and his co. need to restrategies and come up with something that their opposition wouldn't be expecting. Will Peshawar Zalmi continue their winning run? Or, will Lahore Qalandars get their first win? Let's find out! Toss and team news in a bit.

Babar Azam's Peshawar Zalmi, started off their campaign a bit nervy losing two games in a row but they managed to change their gears and push the accelerator hard to win three games in a streak and settle at the third position in the group stage for now. In the previous encounter against Lahore Qalandars, the top order of this side had an incredible knock which they would like to continue in this match as well. In the last match, Babar Azam knocked an outstanding century, which directly showcases the strength of the batting lineup of Peshawar Zalmi. Arif Yaqoob from the bowling unit also bagged 5 wickets into his account in the last match and will be ready to slay the opposition's batter. The only flaw is that they are a bit expensive and leak runs in the mid-innings, which helps the opposition's batter trigger the score. A little check in the line and lengths from the bowling unit will make this match flawless.

Hello and a very warm welcome to the cricketing fans around the globe, as the first match of Saturday's doubleheader is about to begin. This is match number 17 where Lahore Qalandars will be facing Peshawar Zalmi at Pindi Cricket Stadium.

... MATCHDAY ...

We are at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi for Match 17 of the 2024 Pakistan Super League where Peshawar Zalmi will go up against Lahore Qalandars in what will be the first game of a double header Saturday in the PSL. Two teams that find themselves at different ends of the spectrum in the points table with Zalmi in 3rd position with 3 wins from 5 games and the reigning champions, Lahore are dead last with 6 losses out of 6, an unbelievable turnaround for the Shaheen Afridi-led unit. The two sides have already faced eachother once this season and that was a very high scoring affair that was clinched by Peshawar Zalmi. Zalmi do have a settled side with both their batters and bowlers doing more than a decent job and that top order holds the key for their success. The Qalandars on the other hand are down in confidence and even with some big names, confidence matters a lot and they need to find something miraculous to get their mojo back and pick up their first win of the season. Will they be able to do so though? We shall find out in due course.