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Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and opted to bat first against Multan Sultans in the final of the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) seventh edition at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
This season, led by Pakistan pace bowling spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Qalandars managed the second spot in the league round, after emerging winners in a nail-biting Eliminator 2 against Islamabad United on Friday. Both teams have won once each playing against each other at the venue this season.
The Qalandars were triumphant against the Sultans in the round-robin stage — the former becoming the only team to beat the defending champions this season — while the Sultans struck back in the Qualifier on Wednesday to make it to the all-important decider.
The Sultans will come into the final with utmost confidence, especially after how they countered the Qalandars in the qualifier. Nearly all their top players have proven their match-winning ability during the tournament under Mohammad Rizwan’s inspirational captaincy.
The Pakistan wicket-keeper/batter, who was named the ICC T20 Player of the Year last month, has not only shone as a leader but as batter as well. The right-hander is the second-highest run-getter this season after Fakhar with 532 runs at a fabulous average of 76.00. The third in the batters list is Shan Masood with 459.
Sultans’ spinners Khushdil and Tahir and pacer are third and fourth and fifth, respectively in the bowling charts with 16 wickets each. Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen (17) and pacer Zaman Khan (16) are second and sixth but the Lahore outfit will have to do it all over again without their main spinner Rashid Khan.
Shaheen will have to rely on the more orthodox Mohammad Hafeez, specially with the number of left-handers in the Sultans side. The other option is also a veteran in Samit Patel.