LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars return to their fortress at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday with renewed hunger, desperate to get back into the playoff race when they take on a stuttering Quetta Gladiators team in a crucial one-day match of the Pakistan HBL Super League.
The high-stakes contest kicks off a double-header that will also see winless Rawalpindiz take on Multan Sultans in a night match at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.
As the league enters its decisive phase after switching between the two venues following the second round matches in Karachi, every point now carries enormous weight.
Qalandars, led by explosive pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, are sixth in the points table with six points from seven matches, while Gladiators are fourth with the same six points from eight games but a slightly better net run rate. Both teams know that a defeat could end their playoff ambitions, especially since Peshawar Zalmi have already qualified at the top with 15 points.
The Qalandars have shown fighting spirit at home. In the first round at the Gaddafi Stadium, they recorded two wins, against Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans, before suffering a defeat against Karachi Kings.
Back on familiar ground after the break, they will look to unleash their potent batting lineup of Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Naeem and all-rounder Sikandar Raza.
In the bowling department, captain Shaheen has been the standout player with 13 wickets, the second highest in the tournament. However, he needs further support from Haris Rauf, Raza and young pacer Ubaid Shah, who have struggled to find a consistent rhythm with the new ball and in the death overs.
The 2019 champion Gladiators have been inconsistent, particularly at Gaddafi Stadium, where they have managed just one win in four attempts. Defeats to Karachi Kings, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans highlight their vulnerabilities, with their only success coming against Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Hasan Nawaz has emerged as a reliable player, amassing 288 runs at an average of 41.14, while captain Saud Shakeel has contributed 206 runs in composed middle-order innings.
However, the Gladiators need explosive contributions from overseas stars Rilee Rossouw, Shamyl Hussain, Khawaja Nafay and Bevon Jacobs to improve their batting in the middles, an area in which they have failed.
Their bowling attack depends on the duo of Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, each with eight wickets so far.
After their tough loss to Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday, Gladiators bowling coach Sohail Tanvir urged his players to move forward without thinking about the setbacks.
“In my opinion, this happens sometimes: there comes a day as a team when nothing fits,” he said. “So in such situations, as managers, as coaches or as veteran players, all we can say is: forget about this game and let’s move on.”
“Because the good performance of the previous game did not help us today, and if today we played badly and did not do well, it should not affect the next games.
“We still have two games left. And we are still in fourth position. We have every chance; if we play well in the next games, we can qualify for the playoffs.”
Sohail pointed to the middle order’s batting struggles and the pace attack’s inability to generate pressure in the powerplay as key issues, and emphasized that spinners Abrar and Usman need a solid top-order platform to be effective.
On Monday, Qalandars held a practice session at the LCCA Ground along with Karachi Kings, fine-tuning strategies for the must-win match. The Gladiators, who arrived in Lahore later in the evening, opted for rest to ensure freshness.
The second match of the day in Karachi pits the hapless Rawalpindiz against the high-flying Multan Sultans. The newly introduced franchise from Rawalpindiz has endured a torrid debut campaign, remaining winless in seven matches with a dismal net performance.
Despite having talents like Mohammad Rizwan and a mix of experienced local and foreign players, the team has failed to gel, leaving them stuck at the bottom of the table.
Multan Sultans, in stark contrast, are in second place with 10 points from seven matches. With five wins already, they are among the most consistent teams and big favorites to extend their dominance against Pindiz’s team.
A win would further strengthen their playoff position, while Rawalpindiz face another daunting challenge in their quest for their first PSL win.
Published in Dawn, April 21, 2026