PSL 2023 match preview: Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars

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?

Peshawar Zalmi take on Lahore Qalandars in the next match of PSL8.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 2pm local time (9am GMT) on Tuesday, March 7.

Where is the match being played?

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will play host to this fixture.

Who's got the form?

Lahore Qalandars booked their place in the knockout stages with three matches to spare and are currently sitting pretty at the top of the table, with six wins to their name. The defending champions are unbeaten in five matches heading into this clash.

Peshawar Zalmi, meanwhile, are in fourth position and are yet to string a run of results together, winning three and losing three. They are only two points clear of fifth-placed Karachi Kings but are also only four behind second-placed Islamabad United and still have four matches to play. This match could be a turning point in their season.

When the two sides met in February, Lahore Qalandars won by 40 runs.

What's the key match-up?

It was a high-scoring affair when the two sides met in Lahore, with Fakhar Zaman (96 off 45), Abdullah Shafique (75 off 41) and Sam Billings (47 not out off 23) all shining for the Qalandars.

Unfortunately for Zalmi, this was not a one-off, with all three players striking above 150 in PSL8. Sikandar Raza, meanwhile, has scored 177 runs at a strike rate of 188.29.

A couple of early wickets are crucial for Peshawar Zalmi but given Raza's form in the middle order, they'll need to be on the money with the ball and in the field or the game could get away from them.

Sam Billings is one of a number of explosive batters at Lahore Qalandars' disposal [Arif Ali/Getty Images]

What is the team news?

Eight players have been ever present for the Qalandars and they're unlikely to tinker too much with a winning formula.

Peshawar Zalmi may wish to change their top order given Mohammad Haris' struggles - could he and Tom Kohler-Cadmore swap places?

What are the squads?

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)

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

What are the possible starting XIs?

Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Haris, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Haseebullah Khan, Rovman Powell, Aamer Jamal, Wahab Riaz, Azmatullah Omarzai, Arshad Iqbal, Mujeeb ur Rahman

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

What is the weather forecast?

Sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-twenties are expected in Rawalpindi.

Peshawar Zalmi are yet to string two wins together [Aamir Qureshi/Getty Images]

What are the odds?

Lahore Qalandars are the favourites, with odds of 4/6, while Peshawar Zalmi are available at 27/20.

What's the prediction?

Lahore Qalandars are on a five-match winning streak and Peshawar Zalmi don't look like the side to stop them. 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).