For Quetta Gladiators (QG), this decade hasn’t been kind. They lifted their maiden PSL trophy in 2019, following which they made friends with the bottom of the table. Finishing among the top four in a competition with only six teams isn’t exactly an arduous task, but QG failed to do even that. Before they nearly missed reaching the playoffs in the last season, Quetta had finished their previous four seasons in 5th and 6th positions.
But times seem to have changed for them, or so they would hope. They currently occupy third position in the table, albeit with the highest Net Run Rate (NRR). They are also riding high on a three-game winning streak, which could have stretched further had a washout in Lahore not forced them to share points. If all goes according to their plan on Saturday, they can gallop to the top of the table, dethroning Islamabad.
But that wouldn’t be a walk in the park. There is a reason why Islamabad have dominated the table for almost half of the season. And there is also a reason why they have lost two games on the bounce. Unarguably, IU have a well-stacked team, with nearly all bases covered.
But they haven’t been as clinical in Lahore. Of all venues where they have played at least five games, they boast the worst win-to-loss ratio at Gaddafi Stadium. Adding to their worries, that’s where they will be facing Quetta.
Both teams are set to face each other in a reverse fixture again in a few days, so any venue-related woes shouldn’t scare Islamabad. What they will need to do, however, is to hold their nerves.
Team Overview:
What worked in Islamabad’s favour early on is exactly what betrayed them in the last two games: their batting depth. The biggest pro and con of a deep lineup is that if one fails, another steps up, until no one does. Their team is packed with match-winners, capable of turning the tide, but whether that can happen as often as needed remains agonisingly uncertain. On top of it, their bowling lineup has looked timid, conceding 209 against Lahore Qalandars and allowing Zalmi to chase 143 with ease on a tricky Lahore surface.
Quetta’s last game saw them drub Multan Sultans (MS) as comprehensively as it gets. They steamrolled the entire side for 89 runs and chased the target within 6.5 overs. Gladiators also have a deep batting lineup, with Mohammad Wasim Jr coming in as late as No. 8. Although Saud Shakeel has been a tad slow, it hasn’t impacted QG much, thanks to Finn Allen providing the right buffer. Khurram Shahzad and Abrar Ahmed lead a bowling attack that blends experience and young blood.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Quetta and Islamabad have played 19 games against each other, and they’ve been nearly neck and neck. IU hold a slight edge with 10 wins, while Quetta have 9.
Weather and Pitch Report:
The surface in Lahore has dried out after consecutive games. There were cracks on the pitch in the last two matches, which gave spinners plenty of help and allowed pacers to extract bounce. Zalmi’s bowlers targeted the back-of-length area and reaped immediate rewards off the uneven bounce.
Prediction:
Islamabad must bring out their best to win this fixture and stay at the top. This is their last game before returning to their home fortress, so they will want to make it count.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: A Sports, PTV Sports, Tapmad, Tamasha, Walee Technologies, Myco App, Begin
India: FanCode App, Sony Sports Network
Africa: Super Sports
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan: Sony Sports Network
North America: Willow TV
MENA: MYCO
Rest of the World: Sports Central
