PSL 2019, Match 1, Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars, Match Prediction – Weather Report, Pitch Conditions, Playing XIs and Live Streaming Details Who will take the early honours in the opening game of a brand new edition? Another Pakistan Super League (PSL) season is all geared up to enthral and excite all of us. The tournament will start with the match between the defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars. A lot has changed for both these teams from the previous edition of the league. Many of the older players switched teams and there are some new faces in the squads. More than last year, these two teams appear to be much more balanced on paper this time around. Making early inroads will be the key in such a tournament. Thus, the sides will want to leave no stone unturned and give it their everything in the opening match of the season. Pitch and Conditions The track at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is a decent one to bat on. One could expect mediocre scores here at this venue. The spinners will get some purchase and the ball might not hold up much with the track being a fresh one. The temperature is quite pleasant and it is predicted to cool down as the evening progresses. Team Combinations Islamabad United Luke Ronchi will open the innings with Cameron Delport for the United. Only one player can be picked between Sahibzada Farhan and Hussain Talat. The former could be given the first preference. Asif Ali will bat at four and is expected to play some aggressive cricket. It is another tough choice picking one between Philip Salt and Samit Patel. But since he offers a lot more with the bat, Salt could be picked. The team will not miss Patel in the bowling department either because they’ve got the likes of Shadab, Faheem, Parnell in the all-rounder’s department. Amad Butt might be picked along with Rumman Raees and skipper Mohammad Sami. Predicted XI: Luke Ronchi (wk), Cameron Delport, Sahibzada Farhan/Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Philip Salt, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Wayne Parnell, Amad Butt, Rumman Raees, Mohammad Sami (c). Lahore Qalandars Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman will open the innings with Anton Devcich for the Qalandars. Both these players have had issues with their form and consistency of late. The management will hope for them to catch up soon. AB de Villiers is the biggest strength of the batting order as he can change the complexion of the game within no time. Skipper Mohammad Hafeez and Harris Sohail will be the other two men in the middle order. Since Corey Anderson and Sandeep Lamichhane are not available, David Wiese and Hardus Viljoen might be picked. Carlos Brathwaite will have to miss out this game as Wiese is a better option with the ball. Gauhar Ali might keep wickets while Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi and Aizaz Cheema will complete the bowling attack. Predicted XI: Fakhar Zaman, Anton Devich, AB de Villiers, Mohammad Hafeez (c), Haris Sohail, David Wiese, Gauhar Ali (wk), Hardus Viljoen, Yasir Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Aizaz Cheema. Probable Top Performers Shadab Khan – Islamabad United | AB de Villiers – Lahore Qalandars Broadcast Details TV – DSport in India Live Streaming – Cricket GateWay Match Timings – 23:15 IST; 21:45 local The prediction is that the Lahore Qalandars will win. Get the latest Cricket News and updates from Pakistan Super League League, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.<doc-sep>With one cricketing extravaganza in the Bangladesh Premier League concluding recently, the action now moves on to another one in the form of the Pakistan Super League with defending champions, Islamabad United taking on Lahore Qalandars in the first match of the tournament in Dubai. While all the Pakistani franchises have fine-tuned their teams with vital acquisitions during the draft, Islamabad United walk into yet another PSL with the favourites tag while 2019 provides Lahore with an opportunity to write themselves into the history books with the likes of AB de Villiers and Shaheen Afridi in their ranks. With Dubai playing host to the first phase of the PSL 2019, a highly competitive start to what promises to be another successful PSL is expected on Thursday. Squads to choose from: Islamabad United: Luke Ronchi, Sahibzada Farhan, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Zafar Gohar, Waqas Maqsood, Rumman Raees, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Sami (C), Ian Bell, Philip Salt, Cameron Delport, Samit Patel, Muhammad Musa, Wayne Parnell, Zahir Khan, Amad Butt, Rizwan Hussain, Nasir Nawaz. Lahore Qalandars: Mohammad Hafeez (C), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, AB de Villiers, Yasir Shah, Sohail Akhtar, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rahat Ali, Agha Salman, Hassan Khan, Anton Devcich, Carlos Brathwaite, Corey Anderson, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mohammad Imran, Umair Masood, Brendan Taylor, Gohar Ali, Aizaz Cheema, Haris Rauf, David Wiese, Hardus Viljoen Playing XI Updates: Islamabad United: Islamabad have the most well-rounded side in the competition, stacked with experienced Pakistani players such as Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Hussain Talat. With Misbah-ul-Haq's retirement, Mohammed Sami has taken up the captaincy reins and will look to lead another successful campaign in 2019. Luke Ronchi, the player of the tournament last year, should open the batting with Farhan while Samit Patel and Shadab Khan should handle the spin duties. Possible XI: Ronchi(WK), Farhan, Talat, Delport, Samit, Asif Ali, Shadab, Faheem, Parnell, Sami(C), Maqsood/Raees. Lahore Qalandars: After finishing at the bottom of the table last season, Lahore have invested heavily with Mohammed Hafeez appointed as captain as well. AB de Villiers is set to play for Lahore Qalandars this season and with the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman in the team, Lahore can finally break out and challenge for the trophy. Rahat Ali and Yasir Shah will be key for Qalandars while Agha Salman had a good PSL and Global T20 tournament in 2018 and will be expected to perform for them as well. Possible XI: Zaman, Devcich, ABD, Hafeez(C), Salman, Ali/Masood (WK), Wiese, Yasir Shah, Rahat, Viljoen and Shaheen Afridi Fantasy Tips and Suggestions: Wicket-keeper: Luke Ronchi was adjudged the man of the series after an explosive season at the top of the order for Islamabad United in 2018. With a lack of any alternative, Luke Ronchi is a safe and viable pick to go along with in your fantasy side. Batsmen: AB de Villiers, Fakhar Zaman and Hussain Talat are must haves in the side considering their batting prowess in the T20 format. AB de Villiers' stint with the Rangpur Riders was quite successful with the South African even scoring a hundred in the league phase. Asif Ali's form has been dismal for the Pakistan national side but is one player who could make an impact come Thursday with Sahibzada Farhan also a possible option. All-rounders: Faheem Ashraf PSL record speaks for itself with the all-rounder finishing with the most wickets last season. Along with the likes of Agha Salman and Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf could prove to be a wonderful addition into your fantasy team. Shadab Khan could pave the way for Mohammed Hafeez with his off-spin definitely coming in play with a number of left-handers in the Islamabad batting. Bowlers: Shaheen Shah Afridi has grown in leaps and bounds since his breakout performance against the Multan Sultans last season and is one of the world's best young prospects with the ball. With a number of experienced candidates available, two out of Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali and Mohammed Sami would suffice along with the baby faced, Afridi. Captain: AB de Villiers is the obvious choice for captain with his recent form justifying his selection. His ability to put pressure instantly on the opposition along with his daredevil batting will be key for Lahore. In case of a different option, Mohammed Hafeez and Hussain Talat are great options too. Fantasy Suggestion #1: Luke Ronchi(WK), AB de Villiers, Fakhar Zaman, Hussain Talat, Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Agha Salman, Mohammed Sami, Shaheen Afridi and Rahat Ali. Captain: AB de Villiers. Fantasy Suggestion #2: Luke Ronchi(WK), AB de Villiers, Fakhar Zaman, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Mohammed Hafeez, Faheem Ashraf, Agha Salman, Mohammed Sami, Yasir Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi. Captain: Mohammed Hafeez Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on PSL 2019 live scores, schedule, news, points table and fantasy tips.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments Islamabad United will play the Lahore Qalandars on Thursday at 5.45 GMT at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. A total of six teams – Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans, will participate in the PSL 2019 tournament. Every team will play at least ten matches where the top four will qualify for playoffs. PSL 2019: Why is Pitbull NOT performing at Pakistan Super League? How to watch Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars will be shown live on Hum TV and can be found in the UK. Hum Masala is available on Sky channel 720 and will show all matches from the tournament. Bet365 are also streaming matches, though fans will require an account with funds in it. The PSL runs for just over a month with the final taking place on March 17.<doc-sep>PSL 2019, Match 1: Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars: Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update Corey Anderson and Sandeep Lamichhane will join next week. The fourth edition of the cash-rich Pakistan Super League (PSL) is all set to get underway tomorrow. The opening match would be played between defending champions Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both teams had contrasting seasons last time around in 2018. In fact, the United won both their matches against the United, one game ending in a tie. This time, the Fawad Rana-owned Qalandars drafted in quite a few massive names and also replaced Brendon McCullum with Mohammad Hafeez as their captain. The United would be captained by the very experienced Mohammad Sami, who replaced Misbah-ul-Haq, who has moved to the Peshawar Zalmi. All in all, a cracker of an encounter can be expected in the tournament’s first day in Dubai. Match Details: The 1st match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2019 will be played between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The match starts at 9:45 PM local time (5:45 PM GMT) (11:15 PM IST). The game will be live on D Sports in India. Pitch Condition/Report: The pitch has produced some high scores over the years. However, teams batting second has had the advantage of late on this track. Average first innings score: 154 (Last 4 T20 matches) Record of chasing teams: Won – 1, Lost – 3 Probable XI: Islamabad United: Luke Ronchi (WK), Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, Cameron Delport, Asif Ali, Samit Patel, Wayne Parnell, Faheem Ashraf, Rumman Raees, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Sami (C). Bench – Philip Salt, Zafar Gohar, Waqas Maqsood, Ian Bell, Nasir Nawaz, Zahir Khan, Amad Butt, Rizwan Hussain, Muhammad Musa. Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Anton Devcich, AB de Villiers, Mohammad Hafeez (C), Haris Sohail, Gauhar Ali (WK), David Wiese/Brendan Taylor, Yasir Shah, Hardus Viljoen, Shaheen Afridi, Aizaz Cheema/Rahat Ali. Bench – Agha Salman, Carlos Brathwaite, Sohail Akhtar, Umair Masood, Hassan Khan, Mohammad Imran, Saad Ali, Haris Rauf, Corey Anderson, Sandeep Lamichhane. *Lahore could pick inform Brendan Taylor in place of David Wiese as a specialist keeper if Hafeez and Devcich could cover-up for the 5th bowling option. Team News: Corey Anderson and Sandeep Lamichhane will join next week which means the cover players Hardus Viljoen and David Wiese will be available. Power Picks: AB de Villiers’ last seven T20s: 340 runs, 1 100s, 1 50s, 85 Avg, 170.85 S/R Captain and Vice-Captain Selection: Captain options – Fakhar Zaman, AB de Villiers, Mohammad Hafeez Vice-Captain Options – Cameron Delport, Shadab Khan, Hardus Viljoen Alternatives – Luke Ronchi, Brendan Taylor, Hussain Talat Playing XI #1 for Head to Head/Small Leagues: Keeper – Luke Ronchi Batters – Sahibzada Farhan, Cameron Delport, Fakhar Zaman (C), AB de Villiers (VC) All-Rounders – Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan Bowlers – Rumman Raees, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hardus Viljoen, Aizaz Cheema Playing XI #2 for Grand Leagues/Mega Leagues: Keeper – Gauhar Ali Batters – Sahibzada Farhan, Cameron Delport, Fakhar Zaman, AB de Villiers (C) All-Rounders – Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Hafeez (VC) Bowlers – Rumman Raees, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hardus Viljoen Expert Advice: Luke Ronchi last played the T10 league where he was quite average with the bat. Risk can be taken by ignoring him as he costs 9.5 credits. Probable Winners: The Qalandars are likely to start their campaign on a grand note. *Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.<doc-sep>
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars will go head to head in the opening fixture of the 2019 Pakistan Super League on Thursday. The fourth edition of the tournament will feature six teams and some world-class players from around the globe. The final will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi on March 17, 2019. Islamabad United Islamabad United are the defending champions and the most successful team in PSL so far. Islamabad also won the inaugural edition of the tournament. After Misbah's departure, Mohammad Sami has been named the captain, and he has a good squad at his disposal. Luke Ronchi will once again be the key player at the top. He was phenomenal in PSL 2018 with 435 runs at a strike-rate of 182. Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, and Rumman Raees are expected to play a key role. Expected Playing XI: Luke Ronchi, Sahibzada Farhan, Hussain Talat, Cameron Delport, Samit Patel, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Wayne Parnell, Mohammad Sami (C), and Rumman Raees. Lahore Qalandars Lahore Qalandars are one of the favourites to win the league this season. However, they have never qualified for the playoffs, and also have the worst win percentage among all teams. Lahore Qalandars will be led by Mohammad Hafeez in PSL 2019. The presence of AB de Villiers will be a huge advantage for Lahore. Fakhar Zaman is definitely their important player at the top. Yasir Shah will lead the spin department while Rahat Ali has to do well with the new ball. Carlos Brathwaite will be key with both the bat and ball. Sandeep Lamichhane is not available for this fixture because of BBL commitments. Expected Playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Anton Devcich, AB de Villiers, Hafeez(C), Salman, Ali, Carlos Brathwaite, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali, Hardus Viljoen, and Shaheen Afridi. Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on PSL 2019 points table, news, schedule, live scores and fantasy tips.