Quetta Gladiators will face Islamabad United in a crucial clash of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight on Friday at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.
Quetta, who are currently at the bottom of the points table with just one win in four matches, need a win to ensure that they don’t fall too far behind in the race for the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Islamabad are in second place with four points after three games and their only defeat, so far in the tournament, has come against table-toppers Multan Sultans.
For Quetta, opener Martin Guptill, who has already scored a century in PSL 8, and pacer Naseem Shah will be the players to watch out for.
Meanwhile, Islamabad have the likes of Rassie van der Dussen and Azam Khan who can easily take the game away from the opposition with their explosive batting.
The two-time champions, United, would also be happy to see Hasan Ali regain his form ahead of the business end of the tournament. The right-armer bagged the award for player of the match after taking 3-35 against Peshawar Zalmi on Thursday.
“I kept believing in myself and worked hard to get back. The first over didn't go to plan but I came back well,” Hasan said after the match.
“Thanks to the management for always backing me and telling me I am a tiger. When I got the ball in my second spell, the credit goes to Shadab for believing me and giving the ball after a poor first over,” he added.
Squads
Quetta Gladiators: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Odean Smith, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Zahid, Naveen-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Umaid Asif, Will Smeed, Aimal Khan, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Martin Guptill, Omair Bin Yousuf, Nuwan Thushara, Qais Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Dwaine Pretorius, Will Jacks, Odean Smith
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Paul Stirling, Alex Hales, Sohaib Maqsood, Asif Ali, Rassie van der Dussen, Colin Munro, Hassan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Tom Curran, Mohammad Waseem Jr, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Azam Khan (wk), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Zafar Gohar, Rumman Raees, Zeeshan Zameer, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Tymal Mills, Gus Atkinson