Peshawar Zalmi (PZ) and Quetta Gladiators (QG) brewed rivalry before rivalries were all the rage. They do not have provincial politics igniting the rivalry. There is no Karachi vs Lahore noise filling the background either. Just two sides who kept nurturing the competition between them that was so very characteristic of both franchises in the days of yore. Now, though, one of them seems to have lost the plot.
Since their win in the 2019 season, Quetta failed to make it past the group stages for four consecutive seasons. This jinx was only broken in the last season, when they managed to playoffs.
Not coincidentally, Quetta underwent a change of leadership in the last season, with Rilee Rossouw captaining the side. They have another change in captaincy with Saud Shakeel taking the reins this time. Whether this step helps them do one better or proves destructive altogether remains to be seen, but their opening clash against PZ could give a clear hint of what is waiting for them this season.
Team Overview:
Peshawar Zalmi have debatably the most desirable opening pair among all six teams. Babar Azam pairs up with Saim Ayub, who has been given the fitness check to join his side. Rarely do opening partners complement each other the way Zalmi’s openers do. Babar brings poise, Saim brings pomp. This is one of the reasons why Zalmi’s openers averaged a league-best (43.52) last season, which is nearly 13 runs higher than the next team on the list.
Zalmi tried to address their long-standing fast bowling issues by roping in Alzarri Joseph and Mohammad Ali while spin is covered by the in-form Sufiyan Muqeem. Corbin Bosch withdrawing might sting a little more withbthe knowledge that they let go Aamer Jamal and are not left with too many reliable all-rounders.
Peshawar Zalmi would be particularly keen in having Mohammad Haris learn some patience in his stroke-making. Especially given the fact that Zalmi don’t have a backup wicketkeeper in the squad, and while Tom Kohler-Cadmore can keep the wickets, they would rather have him as a batter.
Gladiators’ fast-bowling problems are more serious than Zalmi’s. They have the right names on paper, including Mohammad Wasim Jr., Mohammad Amir, and Faheem Ashraf, who can be a handy fast bowling option, especially in this league. However, on-field, their performance largely hinges upon which version of theirs shows up.
Abrar Ahmed’s presence for the spin department is equivalent to dreamwork for the team. Mark Chapman, Finn Allen, and Haseebullah Khan make for a good top-order with lots of firepower. Saud Shakeel’s captaincy, however, remains a question mark. His batting finesse might be unquestionable, but he is untested as a captain.
Head-to-Head Matches:
In 24 matches, both teams played against each other, Peshawar Zalmi won 13, and lost 10 games. 1 game ended without any result.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Rawalpindi did not live up to its reputation in the tournament opener, but with Peshawar and Quetta’s fire-packed batting lineups, this could change on Saturday. There were cracks in the pitch in Islamabad and Lahore’s encounter, with Shadab Khan taking three wickets. Since it’s a day game, the teams will not have to worry about dew creeping in, which means more assistance for bowlers, especially the spinners.
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
