PSL 7: Islamabad United to take on Quetta Gladiators today

Two-time champions Islamabad United will lock horns with Quetta Gladiators in their first match of the Lahore-leg of the ongoing seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

The match starts at 07:30 PM (PST).

Islamabad United has already thrashed Quetta Gladiators in their Karachi-leg clash, where United secured a comprehensive 43-run victory at the National Stadium Karachi.

Islamabad United have been playing entertaining cricket since the beginning of PSL 2022. Their opening duo — Paul Stirling and Alex Hales — delivered with the bat in the last five matches. However, United will miss Paul Stirling as he has departed to join the Ireland cricket team, and Liam Dawson has replaced him for the Lahore-leg of the PSL.

Left-handed batter Colin Munro was exceptional against Quetta Gladiators in the last fixture as he scored an unbeaten 72 runs.

Skipper Shadab Khan has been phenomenal, and he has performed not only with the ball but with the bat too. Shadab Khan put his critics on mute, who before the PSL said that Shadab shouldn't bat up the order.

Azam Khan also scored a quick 35-ball 65 and will look to carry the same momentum.

In their last fixture, Shadab Khan took a five-wicket haul against the Gladiators.

With Hasan Ali out of form, United's pace bowling has not been performing well. Hasan Ali has been one of the expensive bowlers for Islamabad United in this edition of the PSL, and he will look to up his game tonight against the Gladiators.

Young pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr was quite good for Islamabad United as he managed to take two wickets against the Gladiators and gave away only 27 runs.

Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators have been a more competitive side after the arrival of Jason Roy and James Vince. Roy played masterclass innings against Lahore Qalandars in Karachi as he scored a blistering 57-ball 116 to inspire the Gladiators to victory against a formidable Qalandars side.

An in-form Jason Roy is always good news for the Gladiators but a headache for the Islamabad United bowlers. Opening partner Ahsan Ali has also been a top-performer for the Gladiators, and his aggressive batting style compliments Jason Roy.

However, the Gladiators have lost their star all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz to an injury, and young spinner Hassan Khan has replaced him for the remainder of the PSL.

Head-to-Head:

Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United have met 14 times in the PSL, and both have won seven matches each. At the Gaddafi Stadium, Gladiators and United will look to win and set the record in their favour.

Possible Playing XIs:

Islamabad United: Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Mubasir Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hasan Ali, Waqas Maqsood

Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Ahsan Ali, James Vince, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c)(wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Hassan Khan, Luke Wood, Shahid Afridi, James Faulkner, Naseem Shah, Ghulam Mudassir

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