The high-stakes Eliminator of Pakistan Super League 2025 will see Lahore Qalandars take on their arch-rivals Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This clash is not just about progression in the tournament but also about settling old scores. When these two sides last met at this venue, Karachi stunned the hosts by chasing a 168-run target in just 14.3 overs during a rain-shortened 15-over contest, winning by 4 wickets (DLS method).
Team Form & Overview
Lahore Qalandars enter the Eliminator after an up-and-down league stage. While their batting has shown inconsistency, it was their bowling attack that helped them clinch a crucial win against Peshawar Zalmi by defending 149 in their last outing. They have won two of their four matches in Lahore this season (one match was washed out). Lahore’s strength lies in their bowling attack, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and supported by Haris Rauf and Salman Mirza.
On the other hand, Karachi Kings had a more stable league campaign, stringing together three wins in a row before losing their final group match against Islamabad United. Karachi’s top order, powered by David Warner and James Vince, has shown potential to anchor the innings, while their middle order packs punch with big-hitters like Irfan Khan and Khushdil Shah.
Head-to-Head Record
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Last 4 Matches:
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Lahore Qalandars Wins: 1
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Karachi Kings Wins: 3
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No Result: 0
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The Kings clearly have the recent edge over their rivals and will enter the match with a psychological advantage.
Pitch and Weather Report
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Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
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Weather: Hot and dry with no chance of rain; temperatures expected to be below 40°C during match time.
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Pitch Condition: Balanced wicket with some assistance for both batters and bowlers.
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Average 1st Innings Score: 155 runs in last 5 matches
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Toss Prediction: Bowling first could be preferred, as chasing teams have won 6 of the last 10 matches here.
A score of 180-185 will be highly competitive on this pitch. Both sides have the firepower to chase and defend totals alike.
Key Players to Watch
Lahore Qalandars
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Fakhar Zaman – Scored 60 off 36 balls in the last match; key to LHQ’s top-order stability.
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Salman Mirza – Impressed with 4 wickets in his last game.
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Shaheen Afridi – Leading from the front with the ball.
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Sikandar Raza – All-rounder who can turn the game with either bat or ball.
Karachi Kings
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David Warner – Scored 43 off 28 in the previous game; capable of anchoring the innings.
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James Vince – A reliable top-order presence.
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Irfan Khan – Played a match-winning 48 off 21 against Lahore in their last clash.
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Abbas Afridi & Mir Hamza – Consistent wicket-takers in pressure matches.
Probable Playing XIs
Lahore Qalandars
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Fakhar Zaman
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Mohammad Naeem
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Abdullah Shafique
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Kusal Perera (wk)
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Sikandar Raza
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Asif Ali
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Shakib Al Hasan
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Shaheen Shah Afridi (c)
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Haris Rauf
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Zaman Khan
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Salman Mirza
Karachi Kings
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Tim Seifert (wk)
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David Warner (c)
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James Vince
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Saad Baig
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Irfan Khan
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Khushdil Shah
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Mohammad Nabi
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Aamer Jamal
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Hasan Ali
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Abbas Afridi
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Mir Hamza
Possible Scenarios & Match Prediction
Both teams boast power-packed batting lineups and game-changing bowlers. Lahore Qalandars will rely heavily on their bowling to contain Karachi’s aggressive top order, while Karachi will hope their experienced batters dominate the Qalandars’ unpredictable middle order.
If the pitch behaves as expected and offers good bounce, the game could be high-scoring, especially if either Warner or Fakhar gets going early. However, Qalandars’ bowling attack gives them a slight edge in terms of defending totals.
Prediction:
A close encounter is expected, but if Karachi Kings’ top order fires and their bowling remains disciplined, they might just edge out Lahore once again. However, a strong bowling effort from Qalandars could turn the tide in their favor.
Advantage: Karachi Kings – Slightly better momentum and recent dominance over Lahore Qalandars.