PSL 2018: Here's how Lahore Qalandars can still qualify for the playoffs

The third edition of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) is going deep and the playoffs are nearing fast now. Most of the teams have played more than half of their league games with Islamabad United topping the charts with five victories after 7 matches. Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators follow them. However, Lahore Qalandars registered their first victory of the season after 6 consecutive losses which has brought the tournament alive. They still have an outside chance to make it to the playoffs but need a lot of things to go their way.

Qalandars announced themselves in the tournament on Friday as they defeated the table toppers Multan Sultans comfortably. Brendon McCullum led side played wonderfully as the rookie pacer Shaheen Afridi spit venom with the ball returning with the magical figures of 5/4 during his four-over spell. His bowling helped Qalandars bundle out for 114 inside the stipulated 20 overs and chased it down in the 19th over to win the game by 6 wickets.

Scenarios for Qalandars to qualify

Here are the possible scenarios for Qalandars to qualify for the playoffs:

1. Karachi Kings to lose all their remaining matches

Though it is highly unlikely that Lahore Qalandars would qualify for the playoffs of PSL, they are still mathematically in the tournament. Firstly, they have to win their remaining three matches by a long margin. They are set to face Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi in the league stages now. Also, apart from winning these matches, they would have to depend on other results to go in their favour as well.

For Qalandars, Karachi Kings have to lose all their four matches who are currently fourth on the points table with three wins and a washout to their name. Also, if Kings lose all their matches, Zalmi will go on 8 points given that they lose their other couple of matches and by that time, Multan, Quetta and Islamabad would have sealed their places in the playoffs.

Zalmi and Qalandars will be then tied on 8 points and NRR would come into account.

2. Quetta to lose all their remaining matches

Quetta Gladiators have to lose all their remaining games which would mean that Karachi, Islamabad and Multan would qualify for the playoffs. In this case, as Peshawar will beat Quetta, they will have to lose their other two games against Karachi and obviously Lahore respectively. Then Qalandars have to pray that Karachi Kings to lose to Islamabad United in the final match before the playoffs.

Here, three teams, Zalmi, Qalandars and Quetta would end up with 8 points for a three-way tie and net run-rate will come into play.

In both the scenarios, it is mandatory for Lahore Qalandars to win their three matches, else the grim opportunity to qualify for them would be vanishing soon.

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