PSL 2020, Match 21, Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators, Preview – Defending champions desperate to break their losing streak

Gladiators have suffered a hattrick of defeats in PSL 2020.

Published - 06 Mar 2020, 19:41 IST | Updated - 06 Mar 2020, 19:41 IST

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Quetta Gladiators are currently struggling in this edition of PSL. They have suffered three consecutive defeats due to which they have gone off-track. The defending champions will soon have to mark their way back on the winning track before they get knocked out of the tournament. The main reason behind their poor show is the sudden dip in the form of their players. However, the stage is set for their players to return back into their prime before it gets too late.

Lahore Qalandars look out of touch as they have won just one game in their last five outings. They are currently on the last position in the league table with two points. In the previous game, they suffered an annihilating defeat against Islamabad United by 71 runs. Neither their batsmen are scoring runs nor their bowlers have managed to take wickets in the games. At the moment, nothing is going in their favour due to which they had to suffer defeats since the season got kicked-off.

Team Combinations

Quetta Gladiators

Shane Watson and Jason Roy will open the innings for Gladiators. There is no doubt over the fact that they are currently playing in good form with the bat in this edition of PSL. The former has scored 181 runs in 7 games whereas the latter has scored 227 runs in seven gamed with the help of two half-centuries.

Moreover, Roy is currently the second leading run-scorer in the tournament. The formidable opening pair is one of the biggest positives for Gladiators whereas their biggest weakness is the middle-order. At the moment, none of the players has managed to click good knocks due to which the team fails to finish on a high note.

Ahmed Shehzad, Azam Khan and Mohammad Nawaz are out of form and are struggling to muster runs with the bat. However, it is expected that they will mark a strong comeback in the upcoming encounter. On the other hand, the likes of Tymal Mills, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain will lead the bowling attack of Gladiators. They also look a bit inconsistent with the ball in the tournament. But, their team will be hopeful that their young bowlers to come out with some astonishing performances against Qalandars.

Probable XI: Shane Watson, Jason Roy, Ahsan Ali, Azam Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK), Ben Cutting, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Fawad Ahmed, Sohail Khan

Lahore Qalandars

Qalandars have some big names in their arsenal with the likes of Chris Lynn, Salman Butt and Mohammad Hafeez. But they still have failed to prove their worth in the tournament. Now, they have no more options available but to be positive going into their upcoming clash against the defending champions. Lynn and Butt will open the innings for Qalandars followed by Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk and Samit Patel in the middle order.

Meanwhile, in spin bowling, they have Sri Lankan leg-break spinner Seekkuge Prasanna. On the other hand, Usman Shinwari, Salman Irshad and Dilbar Hussain will lead the fast bowling attack of the team. Qalandars bowlers failed as a unit to perform in the previous game but they are expected to produce some brilliance in the upcoming clash against defending champions Quetta Gladiators.

Probable XI: Salman Butt, Chris Lynn, Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk (WK), Faizan Khan, Samit Patel, Sohail Akhtar (C), Seekkuge Prasanna, Salman Irshad,Usman Shinwari, Dilbar Hussain.

Focus will be on

Jason Roy (Quetta Gladiators)

Jason Roy, the right-hander is in good form with the bat in PSL 2020. He has mustered 227 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 125.41 with the help of two brilliant half-centuries. If he managed to pull off a big knock with the bat then the chances of Gladiators winning the match against Qalandars will be quite high.

Mohammad Hafeez (Lahore Qalandars)

Mohammad Hafeez is one of the most experienced all-rounders in Lahore Qalandars. He has shown some glimpses of his good form in the previous games. However, he has failed to produce a match-winning performance for his team. But, as far as his experience is concerned, his performance with the bat and ball will play a crucial role for Qalandars in the upcoming clash against Quetta Gladiators.