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
Islamabad United take on Lahore Qalandars in the next match of PSL8.
The match is scheduled to start at 7pm local time (2pm GMT) on Thursday, March 9.
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will play host to this fixture.
This is a top-of-the-table clash, with both teams sitting on the same record of six wins and two losses. Momentum is with Islamabad United as they come into the fixture on a three-match winning streak.
Their last game against the Multan Sultans was a hard-fought two-wicket victory, where the runs were shared out down the order. Faheem Ashraf top scored with 51.
Lahore Qalandars saw their five-match winning run end in their last game against Peshawar Zalmi. It was an unusually frustrating game for Lahore, where their lethal bowling attack failed to get an early wicket and their batters couldn't get close to the total set by Zalmi.
The last match-up between the two was a one-sided affair with Lahore winning by 110 runs. This promises to be a closer encounter between the two best teams in the competition.
Lahore Qalandars' bowling attack has been the standout of the tournament. Shaheen Afridi has put any injury concerns to bed with 14 wickets at an average of 17.50. The Qalandars captain has been backed up by Rashid Khan (11 wickets) and Haris Rauf (10).
The bowlers will be crucial for their chances once again as they take on an Islamabad United side that have relied on runs from the middle order. Colin Munro and Azam Khan have been their most reliable run-scorers with 268 from 147 and 236 from 144, respectively.
Islamabad will need Alex Hales' form to improve. He has struggled to get into an innings for them, getting out for one in their last match.
With the ball, Islamabad have yet to bowl out an opposition. It will be important for them to get off to a good start in the powerplay. The wicket of Fakhar Zaman would be crucial, The Qalandars batsman is their highest run-scorer with 250 in the tournament.
Sam Billings has been in the runs for Lahore (Arif Ali/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite their recent loss, the Qalandars are unlikely to change what has been a successful line up for them.
Islamabad will also likely remain unchanged. At the time of writing neither team has any new injury concerns.
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Colin Munro, Paul Stirling, Alex Hales, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abrar Ahmed, Sohaib Maqsood, Rumman Raees, Zeeshan Zamir, Hassan Nawaz, Moeen Ali (available from March 14), Mubasir Khan, Tom Curran, Zafar Gohar, Gus Atkinson (partial replacement for Rahmanullah Gurbaz), Tymal Mills (partial replacement for Alex Hales), Rassie van der Dussen (partial replacement for Moeen Ali)
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)
*squads are for the overall competition and not specific to this match
Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan, Mubasir Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Rumman Raees, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mirza Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Hussain Talat, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
Sunny skies and temperatures in the early twenties are expected in Rawalpindi.
Azam Khan has been in fine form for Islamabad [Aamir Qureshi/Getty Images]
The Lahore Qalandars are the favourites at 8/11 while Islamabad United can be backed at 11/10.
Lahore Qalandars should get back to winning ways, with their bowling attack having too much for Islamabad’s batting line-up. However, this should be a much closer game than the last match between the two.
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).
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