The 26th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will see Islamabad United take on Quetta Gladiators on May 7th at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Match Preview
After an unbeaten run through their first five matches, Islamabad United’s campaign has taken a sharp downturn with three consecutive defeats. Now returning to the familiar surroundings of their home ground, United will be desperate to arrest the slide and secure a playoff berth with a much-needed win.
One of the most pressing concerns for Islamabad has been the form of their middle order, particularly captain Agha Salman and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan. Throughout the tournament, the batting burden has fallen disproportionately on the top order. For United to bounce back, a meaningful contribution from the middle order will be essential—a collective step-up is long overdue.
Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators enter the contest in red-hot form, winning four of their last five matches, with the fifth being washed out. Having already secured qualification for the playoffs, they may use this match to experiment with their combinations and test squad depth ahead of the knockout stage.
A significant factor in Quetta’s recent resurgence has been their bowling attack, spearheaded by Faheem Ashraf and Khurram Shehzad. With Islamabad heavily reliant on their top-order firepower, the opening spell from Khurram and Kyle Jamieson could play a decisive role in shaping the innings.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Naseem Shah—now donning Islamabad colours—will face off against his former franchise. His opening exchange with Finn Allen will be a key subplot; Allen’s explosiveness in the powerplay has the potential to tilt the game early, and Naseem’s ability to neutralize that threat could prove pivotal.
However, this game is not that important in the context of the ongoing six-team tournament as Islamabad unofficially has qualified for the next stage as well. However, winning the game would be crucial to seal that top-two spot in the group stage as it helps the side to get two chances to qualify for the final.
Probable XIs
Islamabad United
Kyle Mayers, Sahibzada Farhan, Colin Munro, Agha Salman (C) , Azam Khan (WK) ,Haider Ali , Imad Wasim, Jason Holder, M Shehzad, Naseem Shah, Riley Meriedeth
Quetta Gladiators
Saud Shakeel (C) ,Finn Allen , Rile Rossow, Haseebullah khan (WK) , Mark Chapman, Hassan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf , Kyle Jamieson, Wasim Jr , Khurram Shehzad, Abrar Ahmad
Head to Head record:
Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United have faced off 20 times in their rivalry, with Islamabad edging ahead with 10 victories. Quetta emerged victorious on 9 occasions, while one encounter ended without a result.
Pitch and weather report:
With Rawalpindi’s characteristically short boundaries and a traditionally flat pitch, a high-scoring contest is on the cards. However, under lights, seamers can expect some early movement, which could pose challenges for top-order batters in the initial overs.
Prediction:
Given how QG won their last game, it make sense that they are favourite to win the upcoming clash as well.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan (TV): A Sports HD, PTV Sports
Pakistan (Live Streaming): tapmad, Tamasha, Daraz, myco, bogn
UK: Sky Sports, Geo News (Sky 734)
North America: Willow
Africa: SuperSport
MENA Region: myco
Bangladesh: T Sports
Sri Lanka & Afghanistan: Sony Sports Network
Rest of the World: Sports Central
