By our correspondent
LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars must secure victory in their final group-stage match against Peshawar Zalmi on May 9 to stay alive in the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL X). With nine points from nine games, the defending champions are teetering on the edge, making their last fixture a virtual knockout.
The playoff race was thrown wide open after Zalmi’s recent triumph over Multan Sultans, which reshuffled the standings and raised the stakes for the final round of league matches. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s side will now have to dig deep to ensure they don’t miss out on a top-four finish in what has already been a turbulent campaign marked by inconsistent performances and weather-affected matches.
Led by Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi now find themselves in a commanding position. Victory in their remaining two fixtures would guarantee them a playoff berth. Their first test will be against the Qalandars, who have everything to lose. Meanwhile, Islamabad United are set to take on Quetta Gladiators in what could be another decisive clash in the playoff equation.
Both teams are jostling for points, knowing that a single win or loss could determine their fate. In a surprising turn, Multan Sultans, who had reached the final in the past four editions of the PSL, are already out of the tournament. Under Mohammad Rizwan’s leadership, the team failed to find rhythm this season and bowed out well before the knockout rounds, ending a remarkable run of consistent performances in the league.
