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Lahore Qalandars Predicted XI vs Islamabad United [Source: AP]
The Lahore Qalandars will face the Islamabad United in Match 16 of PSL 2026 at the National Stadium, Karachi, in the afternoon fixture of the double header on April 9, at 3 PM (IST).
Despite some off-field troubles, the Shaheen Afridi-led Lahore Qalandars have won two of their three matches and sit comfortably in the top half of the table, with the best net-run-rate in PSL 2026. On the other hand, Islamabad United have also won two matches, while one match ended in a no result, and they are third on the table.
So far, Mohammad Naeem is Qalandars' top-scorer with 103 runs at 174.57 and Shaheen Afridi is the leading wicket-taker with 6 scalps. For the United, young Sameer Minhas has set the tournament on fire with 180 runs at 171.42, while captain Shadab Khan has got 5 wickets as the best bowler.
As the teams collide in Karachi on Thursday afternoon, below is a look at Lahore Qalandars' predicted playing XI for the fixture.
Lahore Qalandars' Likely XI vs Islamabad United- PSL 2026, Match 16
Top Order: Mohammad Naeem, Parvez Hossain Emon, Abdullah Shafique
The opening duo of Mohammad Naeem and Bangladesh's Parvez Hossain Emon have started the tournament well, as Lahore Qalandars' highest scorers. Naeem has 103 runs at a strike rate of 174.57, with a fifty to his name, while Emon has scored 71 runs at a strike rate of 161.36, giving his team some brisk starts. They have 10 fours and 13 sixes combined in PSL 2026.
Abdullah Shafique, who is in search of finding his spot back in the Pakistan national team, has scored 70 runs in three innings at 162.79. He will be slated at 3 to build on the starts from the openers.
Fakhar Zaman will miss this game, due to the two-match ban that he received after the ball-tampering charges earlier in the season.
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Middle Order and All-rounders: Rubin Hermann, Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Haeebullah Khan (wk), Shaheen Afridi (c)
South Africa's Rubin Hermann, who has been impressive in recent times with Paarl Royals, earning his national team debut recently in South Africa, will bat at 4 after his PSL debut in the last match. The swashbuckling all-rounder Sikandar Raza will bat at 5, after scoring a high-impact 56 runs in 3 innings so far in PSL 2026.
Sikandar Raza is also Lahore Qalandars only spinner, with three wickets in 7 overs bowled in the tournament so far, despite going for 10.28 runs per over.
The Pakistani pair of Haseebullah Khan and bona fide six-hitter Asif Ali will be the number 6 and 7, who will also be the floaters, as per the team's needs. Shaheen Afridi will share the finishing responsibility with the duo after his 19 runs in 3 innings at 316.66 in PSL 2026 so far. Shaheen has picked 6 wickets, as their best bowler so far in the tournament as well.
Bowlers: Haris Rauf, Ubaid Shah, Mustafizur Rahman
The new ball alongside Shaheen Afridi will be shared by Ubaid Shah's right-arm pace. He has gotten three scalps at a good economy rate of 7.20 runs per over, and the best figures of 2/27.
Haris Rauf and Mustafizur Rahman will cap off the pace attack, which has been effective for the Qalandars so far. The duo will predominantly handle the older ball in the death overs, with Rahman's variations and Rauf's pace bringing three wickets each in the tournament so far. The southpaw has also only conceded at an economy rate under 7 runs per over in PSL 2026.
Lahore Qalandars' XI vs Islamabad United: Mohammad Naeem, Parvez Hossain Emon, Abdullah Shafique, Rubin Hermann, Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Haeebullah Khan (wk), Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Ubaid Shah, Mustafizur Rahman.
Also Read: Islamabad United Predicted Playing XI Vs Lahore Qalandars, PSL 2026, Match 16
