The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is quite a popular T20 league. The eighth edition of the PSL. It is also known as HBL PSL 8. Fans around the world were eagerly waiting to see which team would come out on top.
However, as per the stats, Lahore Qalandars have more support to win. In this article, we will explore the favorite team to win PSL 2023. In addition, we will have a brief overview of the tournament. Moreover, some insights on PSL betting.
PSL 2023 Overview
The PSL 2023 tournament started on 13 February. The six teams participating in the tournament are Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators. Each team did play a total of 10 matches in the round-robin stage of HBL PSL 8. After the round-robin stage, four teams did qualify for the playoffs. Those teams are Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Islamabad United, and Peshawar Zalmi. As those were the top four after the first round.
The playoffs consist of two semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and a final. The semi-finals will be played between the teams that finish in the top four, with the winners of each match progressing to the final. The third-place playoff will be played between the losing teams in the semi-finals.
Upcoming matches
On 15th March, there is a qualifier match between Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans. Those two did finish in the top two among all 6 teams. In fact, those two are the most favorite ones to win HBL PSL 8.
The teams that are in third and fourth position as per the points table, will be playing the 1st eliminator. The teams are Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United. The match is on 16th March 2023.
Now the winner of the eliminator match and runner-up of the qualifier match will come face to face. There will be a second eliminator match among those on 17th March 2023.
Finally, we will have two teams left to compete for the title. The qualifier winner and the winner of the second elimination match enter the finals. It will be quite an exciting match on March 19, 2023. Thus, we will have the winner of HBL PSL 8.
All those 4 matches are going to take place in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Favorite Team to Win PSL 2023
All six teams have an equal chance of winning the tournament, but some are considered to be the favorites based on their past performances and squad strength. In fact, now we have two of the most favorite PSL 2023 teams. Those are Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans. Let us have a look at their performances so far.
Lahore Qalandars (LQ)
By winning 7 out of 10 matches in HBL PSL 8, Lahore Qalandars is number one on the points table. The total points they have are 14. Moreover, the NRR is 0.96.
The captain of LQ is Shaheen Afridi. Another epic player they have is Rashid Khan. Therefore, their bowling lineup is definitely strong enough. There are Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman, Harry Brook, and David Wiese too who do have quite an experience.
One of the most epic performances of the team was against Islamabad United. Lahore Qalanders did beat them by 119 runs. Definitely a huge win.
Multan Sultans (MS)
On the points table of PSL 2023, Multan Sultans is in second place. By winning six matches so far, they did gain 12 points. Islamabad United (IU) to has 12 points. However, the NRR of MS is 0.5. Which is more than that of IU.
In the 28th match of HBL PSL 8, their performance impressed everyone. It was against Quetta Gladiators. MS set a target of 263 by losing just 3 wickets. And, win the match. Therefore, this is another favorite team of HBL PSL 8.
PSL Betting Insights
PSL betting is a popular activity among cricket fans, and there are many options available for PSL betting on the tournament. Some of the popular betting options include match winner, top batsman, top bowler, and many more. Before placing a bet, it is important to do your research and analyze the team’s past performances, squad strength, and pitch conditions.
It is important to note that betting on sports is illegal in some countries. And one should always check the local laws before placing a bet. Also, bet responsibly and as per your budget. Many bookmakers offer a variety of promotions and bonuses to attract customers, but one should always read the terms and conditions carefully before availing of these offers.
Conclusion
The PSL 2023 is getting more exciting now. At the start, all six teams had a chance to win. However, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Lahore Qalandars seem to be the favorites to win the tournament. However, if we have to choose one out of those.
Lahore Qalandars’ name comes on the top. Moreover, PSL betting is a popular activity among cricket fans. And one should always bet responsibly and within their means.
