Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United Prediction & Preview – PSL 2026
Match summary
Preview of Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United at National Stadium, Karachi: probable XIs, afternoon pitch and heat, expected scores and our pick.
Match details
| Match | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United, 16th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Pakistan Super League 2026 |
| Date | 9 Apr 2026 |
| Start time | 9:30 am GMT / 2:30 pm local |
| Venue | National Stadium, Karachi |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Islamabad United |
| Toss pick | Islamabad United |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Lahore Qalandars play Islamabad United in the 16th match of the 2026 Pakistan Super League, an afternoon fixture at the National Stadium in Karachi on 9 April.
Lahore, captained by Shaheen Afridi, have a pace attack with Haris Rauf and Mustafizur Rahman alongside him, and batting options including Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Sikandar Raza and Asif Ali.
Islamabad, led by Shadab Khan, have Devon Conway, Mark Chapman and Haider Ali in the batting, with Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf and Chris Green offering all-round options. Richard Gleeson, Salman Irshad and Mohammad Hasnain make up the pace group.
With no dew expected, the contest should hinge on who handles the heat and the afternoon surface better. We pick Islamabad United.
The National Stadium surface is usually a solid one for batting, with consistent bounce and a fast outfield that carries well-timed shots to the rope. Seamers may get a little help with the new ball, and bowlers who vary their pace can be effective on a slightly dry surface in the middle overs. Dew is unlikely to matter in this afternoon game, so bowlers should keep better control than in night matches.
Karachi is expected to be hot but suitable around the 2:30 pm start, with temperatures of 33–35°C and mostly sunny skies. Rain is almost out of the question. Humidity may be moderate because of the coast, and a light to moderate breeze may give fast bowlers slight help.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 170–190 | – |
| Second innings | 160–180 | – |
Islamabad United
Islamabad’s balanced mix of batting depth, all-rounders and pace gives them a slight advantage in our preview.
Toss pick: Islamabad United
FAQ
What time is Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United?
The 16th match of PSL 2026 starts at 2:30 pm local time (9:30 am GMT) on 9 April at the National Stadium, Karachi.
Will dew be a factor?
Not according to our preview, as this is an afternoon game.
Who do we expect to win LQ vs IU?
We lean towards Islamabad United.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Lahore Qalandars
- Mohammad Naeem
- Parvez Hossain Emon
- Abdullah Shafique
- Rubin Hermann
- Haseebullah Khanwk
- Sikandar Raza
- Asif Ali
- Shaheen Afridic
- Haris Rauf
- Ubaid Shah
- Mustafizur Rahman
Islamabad United
- Devon Conwaywk
- Sameer Minhas
- Mohammad Faiq
- Mark Chapman
- Shadab Khanc
- Haider Ali
- Imad Wasim
- Faheem Ashraf
- Chris Green
- Richard Gleeson
- Salman Irshad