Lahore Qalandars have better chances to win against Karachi Kings in PSL 2026 Match 35.
The PSL 2026 Match 35 brings the El Clásico of PSL back to the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Lahore Qalandars, the defending champions, host Karachi Kings in an 8:00 PM PKT evening clash.
Qalandars are riding back-to-back wins and Fakhar Zaman’s red-hot form (103 off 51 in the last match), while Kings are reeling without captain David Warner (back injury) and have lost three consecutive matches. Home advantage, momentum, and a superior bowling attack tilt this firmly in Lahore’s favour.
PSL 2026 Match 35 LHQ vs KRK Match Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Match 35, HBL PSL 11 (Pakistan Super League 2026) |
| Teams | Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings |
| Date | Thursday, April 23, 2026 |
| Time | 8:00 PM PKT / 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Live Broadcast | A Sports, PTV Sports (Pakistan) |
| Live Streaming | Tapmad (Pakistan), Willow TV (USA) |
| LQ Captain | Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| KK Captain (Stand-in) | Moeen Ali (David Warner injured) |
| LQ Position | 4th (P8, W4, L4, Pts 8, NRR -0.503) |
| KK Position | 7th (P7, W3, L4, Pts 6, NRR -1.368) |
PSL 2026 Match 35 Odds for LHQ vs KRK
The betting market paints a clear picture: Lahore Qalandars are favourites.
Qalandars’ win odds hover around 1.68-1.75 across major platforms, reflecting their home advantage and recent momentum. Karachi Kings, missing Warner and on a three-match losing streak, are priced as underdogs in the 2.08-2.15 range.
The toss market is almost dead even. Both captains will have a tactical choice to make at the Gaddafi Stadium, where conditions can shift between day and night fixtures.
| Platform | LQ Win Odds | KK Win Odds | Toss (LQ) | Toss (KK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.72 | 2.10 | 1.90 | 1.85 |
| Stake | 1.68 | 2.15 | 1.85 | 1.90 |
| 4RABET | 1.75 | 2.08 | 1.88 | 1.88 |
| BetVibe | 1.70 | 2.12 | 1.90 | 1.85 |
PSL 2026 Match 35 Toss Prediction for LHQ vs KRK
This is an evening fixture (8:00 PM PKT), and that changes the equation at the Gaddafi Stadium significantly.
Dew settles on the outfield from around the 14th-15th over of the second innings in night matches here. That makes gripping the ball harder for bowlers and turns the outfield into a skating rink for the ball. Chasing becomes noticeably easier.
In PSL 2026, the toss-winning captain has chosen to bowl first in 4 of the 5 evening games at the Gaddafi Stadium. The lone exception was Shaheen Afridi himself against Quetta (Match 30), where he batted first and posted 197.
Expect both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Moeen Ali to elect to bowl first if they win the toss. The captain who wins it will almost certainly set the chase.
Toss Prediction: The toss winner will opt to field first.
Lahore Qalandars Predicted Playing XI for PSL 2026 Match 35
Lahore Qalandars enter this match with the momentum they’ve been searching for all season. Two wins on the bounce have pushed them to 4th on the points table.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fakhar Zaman | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Mohammad Farooq | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Abdullah Shafique | Batter |
| 4 | Charith Asalanka | Batter |
| 5 | Sikandar Raza | All-rounder |
| 6 | Haseebullah Khan (wk) | WK-Batter |
| 7 | Daniel Sams | All-rounder |
| 8 | Shaheen Shah Afridi (c) | Bowler |
| 9 | Usama Mir | Bowler (Leg-spinner) |
| 10 | Ubaid Shah | Bowler |
| 11 | Haris Rauf | Bowler |
Key Updates:
Parvez Hossain Emon has been ruled out of PSL 2026 after suffering a shoulder injury during an on-field collision. Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka has replaced him in the middle order and looked sharp with 31 in the last match.
Fakhar Zaman returned from a two-match ball-tampering ban and has looked better than ever. His 84 off 54 against Rawalpindiz followed by 103 off 51 against Quetta Gladiators tells you everything about where his confidence sits.
The pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Daniel Sams is arguably the most feared fast-bowling combination in the tournament. Shaheen took 4/18 against Karachi Kings earlier this season. That kind of hostility at Gaddafi Stadium is hard to counter.
Karachi Kings Predicted Playing XI for PSL 2026 Match 35
Karachi Kings are in trouble, and there’s no sugarcoating it. They started the PSL 2026 Season with three consecutive wins under David Warner but have since lost four of their last four completed matches.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Roy | Batter (Opener) |
| 2 | Reeza Hendricks | Batter (Opener) |
| 3 | Salman Ali Agha | All-rounder |
| 4 | Saad Baig (wk) | WK-Batter |
| 5 | Moeen Ali (c) | All-rounder |
| 6 | Khushdil Shah | Batter |
| 7 | Azam Khan | Batter |
| 8 | Abbas Afridi | All-rounder |
| 9 | Hasan Ali | Bowler |
| 10 | Adam Zampa | Bowler (Leg-spinner) |
| 11 | Mir Hamza | Bowler |
Key Injury/Absence Updates:
David Warner has missed the last three matches due to a persistent back strain. Beyond the injury, Warner was also arrested for drink-driving in Sydney during the PSL break, and faces a court hearing on May 7, 2026. His availability for Match 35 remains highly uncertain. Moeen Ali will continue to captain the side.
Jason Roy was signed as a replacement for Muhammad Waseem, who departed for UAE national duty. Roy holds the highest individual PSL score ever: 145* off 63 balls. He scored 39 off 27 in his first match for the Kings this season.
Zahid Mahmood has been added to the squad as a replacement for Khuzaima bin Tanveer, adding a leg-spin option alongside Adam Zampa.
Dream11 Team for LHQ vs KRK
Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report, PSL 2026
The Gaddafi Stadium has been the heartbeat of PSL 2026, hosting the majority of this season’s matches. The surface here tells a slightly different story depending on whether you’re watching a day game or a night game.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Capacity | 34,000 |
| Pitch Type | Batting-friendly, even bounce, true surface |
| Average 1st Innings Score (PSL T20s) | 169 runs |
| Boundary Size | 75-80 metres (square and straight) |
| Best Strategy | Assess conditions; batting first has the edge in day games |
What to expect from the surface on April 23:
- Batting-friendly with even bounce. The Gaddafi pitch is known for consistent carry and a fast outfield. Stroke-making batters thrive here. The average T20 first innings score at this venue is around 169 runs.
- Pace bowlers find early movement. The new ball offers seam movement, especially under lights. Fast bowlers claimed 40 wickets compared to spinners’ 28 in the last five PSL matches here.
- Spinners gain grip as the match progresses. Dry patches on the surface allow leg-spinners to extract turn and bounce. Adam Zampa’s 2/11 earlier this season on this very ground proves the point.
- Dew in evening matches. For a night match like this one, dew becomes a genuine factor from around the 14th-15th over of the second innings. It makes gripping the ball harder, especially for spinners. This is the key reason chasing teams have an edge under lights here.
- Expected score range: 170-200 per innings. LQ posted 210/4 and 197/6 in their last two home matches. However, Kings were restricted to 131/6 chasing 129 on a used pitch earlier this season. The surface at Gaddafi varies based on wear.
Lahore Weather Report, April 23, 2026
Good news for the match. Clear skies and no rain are forecast for match night. Lahore in late April is hot, dry, and relentless, but the evening start should bring some relief. Here’s the breakdown:
| Weather Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Clear skies, hot and dry |
| Temperature | 30°C – 36°C (evening cooldown to ~30°C) |
| Humidity | Low to moderate (~30-40%) |
| Wind Speed | Light winds, 10-15 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Minimal |
| Dew Factor | Moderate dew expected from ~14th-15th over of the 2nd innings |
| Rain Probability | Less than 5% during match hours |
| Match Interruption Risk | Very Low; a full 40-over contest is almost certain |
Temperatures are forecast to be around 90°F (32°C) for match time. The heat may slow down the outfield marginally compared to cooler evenings, but otherwise, this is textbook cricket weather. No interruptions expected.
LQ vs KK Head-to-Head: Last 5 Matches
Recent matches between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings have been competitive, with both teams sharing wins in the Pakistan Super League.
Overall Head-to-Head (PSL History):
| Matches Played | KK Wins | LQ Wins | Tied/NR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 15 | 8 | 0 |
Karachi Kings hold a commanding 15-8 lead in the all-time PSL head-to-head. That record is hard to ignore, even for Qalandars fans who will point to their Eliminator win in PSL 2025 as a turning point.
Last 5 Matches:
| Match | Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSL 2026 (Match 6) | Mar 29, 2026 | Karachi Kings | 4 wickets (3 balls rem.) | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| PSL 2025 (Eliminator 1) | May 22, 2025 | Lahore Qalandars | 6 wickets | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| PSL 2025 (Match 19) | Apr 26, 2025 | Karachi Kings | 4 wickets | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| PSL 2024 (Match 21) | Feb 24, 2024 | Karachi Kings | 7 wickets | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| PSL 2024 (Match 8) | Feb 19, 2024 | Karachi Kings | 22 runs | Nat. Bank Stadium, Karachi |
Kings have won 4 of the last 5 encounters. But context matters here. In PSL 2026 Match 6, Qalandars were penalised 5 runs for ball tampering, which turned a tight chase into a 4-wicket Kings win. Without that penalty, the result might have been very different.
Rivalry Highlights:
Fakhar Zaman leads the all-time run-scorers in this fixture with 507 runs, ahead of Babar Azam (467). Haris Rauf holds the joint-highest wicket tally at 11 wickets in this rivalry, level with Mohammad Amir.
This fixture is known as the “El Clásico of PSL” and regularly produces drama. The 2020 PSL Final was contested between these two teams, with Kings winning by 5 wickets to clinch their maiden title.
Our Prediction: Lahore Qalandars Have Better Chances to Win Against Karachi Kings in PSL 2026 Match 35
Bottom line up front: Lahore Qalandars win, defending or chasing a target in the 175-195 range.
Why Lahore Qalandars Win
Momentum is real, and Qalandars have it. Two wins in a row for the first time this season, including a game where Fakhar Zaman smashed a century. That kind of form is infectious in T20 cricket. When your best batter is firing, the entire lineup feeds off it.
The bowling attack is the tournament’s most complete. Shaheen (4/18 vs KK earlier), Haris Rauf (2/28 in the last match), and Daniel Sams give Qalandars three genuine death-over options. Against a Kings batting lineup missing Warner, that’s a mismatch.
Home advantage. Gaddafi Stadium is Lahore’s fortress. Qalandars have won both their recent home games convincingly, posting 210 and 197. The crowd energy (even with limited attendance) and familiarity with conditions give them a genuine edge. Shaheen was born in this city; he knows every blade of grass.
Why Karachi Kings Could Win
History is on their side. 15-8 in the all-time head-to-head, and 4 of the last 5 meetings won by the Kings. This is a rivalry where Karachi has held a psychological edge for years, and those patterns don’t flip overnight.
Adam Zampa on this surface is a weapon. The Australian leg-spinner took 2/11 in 4 overs at this very ground in Match 6. Qalandars have historically struggled against quality spin this season (bowled out for 100 against Islamabad’s spinners, 134 all out vs Quetta’s spin-pace combo in Karachi). If Zampa strikes early, the Kings have a chance.
Jason Roy is a wildcard. The man who holds the PSL’s highest individual score (145*) can single-handedly take a game away from any attack. One Roy special, and the form guide goes out the window.
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Final Verdict
Lahore Qalandars win this one. The combination of Fakhar Zaman’s electric form, Shaheen Afridi’s pace attack at home, and Karachi’s glaring leadership vacuum (no Warner, three straight losses) makes this prediction straightforward.
Kings have the historical edge, but history doesn’t bat or bowl. Current form and conditions do. And right now, Qalandars are the better team at the better time.
Predicted Winner: Lahore Qalandars
This prediction is based on publicly available squad data, injury reports, venue stats, and historical records as of April 22, 2026. Official playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
