The late surge of Lahore Qalandars thanks to bubble-gum man and six-machine Ben Dunk has put the Pakistan Super League 2020 wide open. After the seventeen matches played in the group stage of the Pakistan Super League 2020, only Multan Sultans have qualified for the play-offs so far. In next seven remaining matches, all five teams have a chance to reach the play-offs at the cost of others.
The current position of the team at points table is as follows:
With 10 points potentially looking to be cut-off point for the qualification, Islamabad United are in deep trouble and if all the matches got completed without the interference of weather, United’s chances to qualify for the play-offs are very dim.
Here are the scenarios for the teams:
Defending champion Quetta Gladiators:
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmad-led side is currently at the bottom of the table and facing a possibility of early elimination. Having played 8 matches, Gladiators will play two matches and they need victory in both matches. They will face Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings next. If Quetta win both matches, it may spell trouble for Kings.
Karachi Kings
Karachi Kings are currently fourth on table with three matches remaining. They have a very good chance to qualify for the play-offs and could even finish among top two if they win all three matches. They are to face Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators.
A win over all three means end of the road for Gladiators and United with Qalandars still have possibility to qualify and loss in two matches mean ouster of Kings from the event.
Multan Sultans
If Sultans continue their good run in the group stage and emerged victorious in all their three remaining matches that would leave a door of opportunities for others to qualify even without reaching the 10 points. If Sultans lose all three matches the 10 points cut off point would remain intact.
If Sultans beat Gladiators, the season would be over for the defending champions.
If Sultans beat Qalandars, Qalandars would have to beat Peshawar Zalmi and Karchi Kings to qualify.
If Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi, Zalmi must emerge victorious over Qalnadars.
Peshawar Zalmi
The equation is very straight for Zalmi who are second on the points table with 9 points under their belt. Win at least one match either against Lahore Qalandars or Multan Sultans to reach the play-offs. Defeat in both means Zalmi may face elimination from the tournament. But despite two defeats they can still qualify as there is possibility of cut-off point may slash to 9 points in the end.
Islamabad United
United are in a very tricky position at the moment. Though they are currently third at the points table yet there chance to qualify next stage are very grim as they have only one match left to play for. If they won against Karachi Kings they would finish on 9 points and then would have to pray that other results go in their way.
Lahore Qalandars
The constant back-seaters of the PSL are on a move and have breathed a new life into the competition this year. They have to win at least two more matches from remaining three to qualify for the tournament. A Qalandars win in all three matches will mean a top two finish and threat to Zalmi and Kings chances.
Anyhow, there are still a lot of possibilities and weather may also play tricks at the chances of the teams. So the Qalandars have really put the tournament into a spin on the tune of the increasing heartbeats of each team’s fans.
So fingers are crossed let’s see how the last part of the tournament unfolds!
The following line-up has the strongest chance to qualify for the play-offs.
Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi