PSL final 2020: Live updates on Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings clash

The Pakistan Super League final for the fifth edition of the country's most loved tournament will be played tonight between the Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings. 

No matter who wins tonight the PSL crown will be won by a new team today. Both the teams are also playing their first-ever PSL final. 

For the Lahore Qalandars it has been a season of many firsts as it was also the first time that the team qualified for the playoffs. In the last four editions the team had always ended up last. 

While the Karachi Kings always managed to end up in the playoffs they were unable to reach the finals till this edition.

The match is scheduled to start at 8pm without any spectators due to the coronavirus. 

Keep following this story to keep up with the latest comments/reactions and analysis coming in regarding the final.

For our ball-by-ball updates click here.

7:30pm — Lahore Qalandars win toss and decide to bat first 

Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and have decided to bat first against Karachi Kings in the much awaited Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at the National Stadium, Karachi.

7:21pm — Several roads blocked as PSL final is just minutes away

Several roads have been blocked as the PSL final is just minutes away.

- Road from Shahrah-e-Faisal to Karaz

- Hasan Square Bridge

- Route from New Town chaurangi to National Stadium

As a result of the blocks, there are massive traffic jams in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Shahrah-e-Faisal.

7:09pm — PSL final presenters don traditional Pakistani dresses

6:30pm — 'PSL 2020 final to be biggest finale match of this year': Sami Aslam

Ahead of the PSL 2020 final match at Karachi Stadium today, test cricketer Sami Aslam has sent his best wishes to Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings for making it to the finals.

“The PSL 2020 Final will be the biggest finale match of this year. The contest between LQ and KK shows that the Pakistan Super League is booming,” he said, adding that he is particularly rooting for Lahore Qalandars.

5:49pm — Shoaib Akhtar hops on Twitter's Nihari vs Biryani bandwagon

Pacer Shoaib Akhtar has hopped on Twitter's Pulao vs Biryani bandwagon, saying that he was loving "this fun rivalry" and urged the fans to share posts that they had come across.

5:35pm — Sami Khan, Anoushay Abbasi root for Karachi Kings

5:25pm — Can you guess Karachi Kings' Playing-XI?

5:15pm — Chris Lynn wishes the best for Lahore Qalandars

Australian batsman Chris Lynn has wished the best of luck to the Lahore Qalandars for the PSL finals as he remains unable to join his side in the remainders.

"You guys have come a long way and worked extremely hard to turn things around. The people of Lahore are very proud! Well done," he said.

WATCH: Lahore Qalandars 'lucky charm' excited about PSL final

4:50pm — Nihari vs Biryani trends on Twitter as final nears

4:38pm — SACM Firdous Awan cheers for Karachi and Lahore

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that she is supporting both the teams in the final — Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars.

"Lahore Qalandars is Punjab's heart, and Karachi the mind," she said, adding that it is crucial that Lahore's fast bowlers perform well.

4:27pm — PSL final match preview

Over the past 12 years, NSK has hosted eight ODIs, three Tests and two T20Is but neither has been even close to the one that will be played tonight between two domestic sides, and that, too, behind closed doors.

But such is the cultural, political and media rivalry between the two cities that their matches generate more interest than even some of the national team’s international assignments.

It won’t even matter tonight that the match gets played behind closed doors. It also won’t matter that outside the stadium thousands of commuters will be cursing the traffic jam, for the millions watching home … will be in millions.

Road to the final

By now everyone knows about Lahore’s path to the final. They had won just one of their opening five games and were rooted to the bottom yet again. At that point, their captain insisted that it was not over and was ridiculed for saying that. Days later, his prophesy came true as the Qalandars went on a crazy run, becoming THE form team of the tournament and finishing third on the table.

Karachi’s wins were a bit scattered and their results were devoid of any real pattern. They started the tournament with a win, then lost two, then won two and so on and so forth.

4:00pm — Will the commentators wear a pagri for the final?

Hours before the final, commentator Ramiz Raja shared a picture of him wearing a pagri that maybe hinting that the commentators may done traditional clothes for the final. 

3:50pm — When the famous Lahore Qalandars-Karachi Kings rivalry made it to 'Family Guy'

As the Lahore Qalandars lock horns with the Karachi Kings on Tuesday for the PSL 2020 glory, let us take you back to the time when the rivalry between the franchises was featured on "Family Guy".

In the scene, from Family Guy Season 19, Episode 1, central character Peter Griffin is seen sitting with his friends at their favourite hangout having a beer when the conversation turns to 'foreign' sports fans at the pub.

Read more here.

3:30pm — Teams that take 'brave' decisions win: Yousuf  

Pakistani batting great Mohammad Yousuf said that teams that take “brave” decisions end up winning ahead of the PSL final in Karachi.

Yousuf, while speaking to Geo News, lauded the PSL for the bowling quality found in the PSL. He added that it was a good indication that the national players give their hundred percent in the matches. 

3:00pm — Pakistani Karateka Saadi Abbas hoping for a Karachi win 

Saadi Abbas, member of Pakistan Karate team says he will be backing the Karachi Kings in the PSL final.

“I want to congratulate both the teams as they’ve qualified for the final for the first time, but it will be Karachi Kings as the winner, I will be rooting for them,” Abbas told Geo News. 

2:50pm — Stage finalised for awards distribution ceremony

The stage for the awards distribution has been set for the PSL final, reported Geo News.

According Geo News, the players of the tournament, best bowler and best batsman will be invited on the stage to collect the trophy

2:25pm — Mohammad Amir is 'super excited' about the PSL final

2:15pm — Who will win tonight? PSL shares teaser of both teams 

2:00pm — Wrestler Inam Butt not sure who to support

World beach wrestling champion Inam Butt is confused regarding who to support in the PSL final. 

Rustam Pakistan Inam Butt told Geo that he want to see Rana Fawad — the owner of Lahore Qalandars — doing some bhangra in Karachi but also wants Babar Azam of Karachi Kings to score some runs.

“I am very excited to see the PSL final being played in Karachi. While I want to see Babar Azam score a century, I also want to see Rana Fawad doing some bhangra at the stadium and celebrate the success,” Inam said.

“I want to wish best of luck to both the teams and whoever wins, the ultimate winner tomorrow will be Pakistan Cricket,” the champion wrestler said. 

1:35pm — Tennis star Aisam ul Haq is backing Lahore Qalandars 

Tennis star Aisam ul Haq is also eagerly waiting for the for final to begin between the Karachi and Lahore teams. 

“Being a Lahori, I have always supported Lahore Qalandars and I am cheering for them from day one,” said Aisam ul Haq.

“Not only me, but people from other part of countries are also eager to see Lahore Qalandars win the final knowing their struggles for last four years,” said the Tennis ace while talking to Geo.

1:20pm — Whoever wins trophy to be lifted by Northern boy: Muhammad Wasim

Head coach of the Northern side Muhammad Wasim said whoever lifts the trophy will be from his domestic side as both the captains play for Northern side. 

The former Pakistani cricketer wished good luck to both the teams and hoped that there would be a "cracker of a match".   

1:00pm — Punjab minister Aleem Khan is rooting for Lahore Qalandars 

Punjab provincial minister announced his support for the Lahore Qalandars team in a tweet shared on Tuesday.

The minister said that the Qalandars had played "brilliantly" throughout the tournament and congratulated them. He hoped that the team will play the same way in the final and lift the trophy. 

"My prayers and good wishes are with the Lahore Qalandars," said Aleem. He added that whoever wins the win will be of cricket, peace and Pakistan.

12:35:pm — Lahore Qalandars Ben Dunk focused on winning the final

Lahore Qalandars’ batsman Ben Dunk has set his goal straight for today’s PSL final against Karachi Kings — do whatever it takes to win the trophy.

The 33-year-old flamboyant batsman from Australia told Geo News that he’s confident of a good show in the final and hoped that Lahore Qalandars will finally provide the fans something to smile about.

“I am very excited to play the final,” he said.

“The main aim of the tournament was to win the PSL. We have put so much hard work to get to the final and it is fitting that it is against Karachi who are our main rivals. I am looking forward to playing, I am sure lot of people will be tuning in and I am hoping we’ll be able to give Lahore fans something to smile about,” the batsman who played 5 T20Is for Australia said.

Dunk, who has played two innings in play-off stage with scores of 20 and 3, hoped to repeat his 40-ball-99 type performance against Karachi Kings in the finals.

But, the batsman was quick to add that team’s victory is more important for him than individual goals.

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12:00pm — The captains with the winning prize

11:35am — Karachi Kings boys are pumped: Wasim Akram

Karachi Kings acting coach Wasim Akram shared on Tuesday that the "boys are pumped". 

"I’ve never worked with a team so devoted to not only wanting the cup but ultimately playing for the fans," tweeted Akram. 

The former Pakistan cricket team captain hoped that his team wins tonight match and prayed that the Kings "go out there and play some incredible cricket".

11:15am — Roads leading to National Stadium to be shut for final

Karachi Traffic Police have said that the Stadium road will be shut down for the PSL final and issued instructions for commuters.

The police have said that the commuters will not be allowed to travel from New Town to the Stadium Road.

The traffic coming from Laiquatabad will be diverted to New Town from the Hasan Square bridge. They also shared that the University Road will remain open for traffic.

The police also shared that the road leading from Karsaz to the stadium will also remain shut.

The traffic police have said that residents of the area and people heading to the Agha Khan Hospital and Liaquat National Hospital can come from New Town.

11:05am — Lahore Qalandars loses whenever I watch match with Rana Fawad, reveals Zainab Abbas

On a lighter note, Pakistan's acclaimed cricket presenter Zainab Abbas has revealed that whenever she watched a match alongside Lahore Qalandars’ owner Rana Fawad, his side lost that match.

She made the comments on Geo News programme ‘Jashn-e-Cricket’ where Fawad and former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar were also present.

Rana Fawad, who was all smiles over the victory of his team in the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), expressed his excitement about the splendid win against Multan Sultans.

“I was overjoyed yesterday. But today, I’m feeling the pressure of the upcoming faceoff,” he pointed out. “It’s a pressure match. It would be a Dama Dam Mast Qalandar clash.”

Read more here.