Lahore Qalandars captain Sohail Akhtar Saturday won the toss and elected to field first in a key Pakistan Super League match of the 2020 season at Gaddafi Cricket Stadium, Lahore.
The ground staff did a commendable job at the stadium as despite heavy rain overnight and drizzling in the day, they prepared the ground in time to go for scheduled start.
Qalandars have made four changes for the match as Chris Lynn has been ruled out due to fever and Shaheen Afridi returns in place of Usman Shinwari. David Weisse also made comeback to playing XI as he replaced Sri Lanka Seekkuge Prasanna while Farzan Raja also made it to the playing XI. Qalandars captain Sohail said they would take the advantage of moisture in the pitch and would try to restrain Gladiators to a low total.
Quetta captain Sarfaraz was not much unhappy from losing the toss as he said that it released the pressure of taking the decision as it was a 50/50 wicket both for batting and bowling. He admitted that every game from now on was a do or die situation for teams and there was a certain pressure on every one. Quetta have made two changes for the matches as they beffed up their spinning department taking a cue from previous night’s abandoned match. Leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood, who replaced injured Nasim Shah, was headed for action and Fawad Khan replaced Tymas Mills.
In last encounter between the two sides at the same venue, Ben Dunk and Samit Patel batted out them by putting the highest score of the innings and giving Qalandars first and only win of the season so far.
A defeat in the match would virtually ends all hopes of Qalandars to advance in play-off stage yet again and they would have to be at their best if they want to stay in the event.