PSL 2023 match preview: Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United

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 Islamabad United in the next match of PSL8.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 7pm local time (2pm GMT) on Monday, February 27.

Where is the match being played?

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

Who's got the form?

Islamabad United have started their 2023 PSL strongly with three wins in four games. They are currently placed second in the points table and will be hopeful of maintaining that momentum.

Azam Khan has been the go-to man for Islamabad United with the bat this season so far. He has scored 166 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 184.44. He smashed 97 against Quetta Gladiators on Friday. Additionally, Colin Munro and Rassie van der Dussen have also looked in decent touch.

Lahore Qalandars warmed up for their clash with Islamabad by smashing 241 for 3 against Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday afternoon.

What's the key match-up?

This should be an interesting one. United have a strong batting lineup, and Lahore have a terrific bowling attack, including skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, speedster Haris Rauf, the experienced David Wiese and spin wizard Rashid Khan.

The arrival of Sam Billings has added batting depth for Lahore; he smashed an unbeaten 47 off 23 balls in Sunday's carnage, during which Fakhar Zaman hit 96 off 45 balls, centred around 10 sixes.

^{Fakhar Zaman is in fine form for Lahore (Arif Ali/AFP via Getty Images)}

What is the team news?

Both sides are coming off enormous victories in their previous game, so we expect them to continue playing with the same XIs.

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)

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)

*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

Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Hasan Ali, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abrar Ahmed

What is the weather forecast?

Sunny skies are expected throughout the day, with temperatures fluctuating in the low 20s during the game.

^{Azam Khan was on fire last time out (Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images)}

What are the odds?

Coming soon.

What's the prediction?

It's an evenly-matched contest, but given the current form and balance of the XIs, we have Islamabad United as narrow favourites.

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).