PSL 2022 match preview: Quetta Gladiators v Islamabad United

Key match-ups, squad lists, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, odds, form guide and more ahead of the next game of the 2022 Pakistan Super League season

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What's the match?

Quetta Gladiators take on Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League.

When is it taking place?

The game is set for Thursday, February 3. The first ball will be bowled at 7:30pm local time (2:30pm GMT).

Where is the match being played?

The game will be held at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Who's got the form?

Both sides have endured mixed starts to the tournament.

Islamabad United have won one game out of two, losing to Multan Sultans, who have a 100 percent record in PSL7 to date, after defeating Peshawar Zalmi in their season opener. They chased down 168 inside 16 overs against Zalmi, with both Paul Stirling (57 from 25) and Alex Hales (82 from 54) posting half-centuries.

Quetta have won one game from three, losing to Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans either side of an eight-wicket win over Karachi Kings.

Naseem Shah was instrumental in their win over the Kings, taking 5 for 20 to restrict Babar Azam's side to 113. They then chased down their target in 15.5 overs for the loss of two wickets, with Ahsan Ali (57 from 43) and Will Smeed (30 from 35) the most notable performers with the bat. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed guided them home with 16 runs in nine balls.

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Naseem Shah [Asif Hasan/AFP via Getty Images]

What's the key match-up?

This match is likely to be a battle of the big hitters.

Stirling and Hales have shown up in Islamabad’s opening two games.

Ireland opener Stirling hit the second-fastest fifty in PSL history in their opener, bringing up his half-century in just 18 deliveries. Hales saw them over the finish line, as he ended not out on 82 runs (54 balls).

Shadab Khan set National Stadium alight in Islamabad’s last game, as the 23-year-old smashed a personal T20-best 91 from 42 deliveries, though he was ultimately unable to guide his side home.

Quetta’s top order have also exploded out of the blocks.

Ahsan Ali has hit 154 runs in their three games so far and has passed 50 twice.

Young Englishman Will Smeed has also had a good first few games, despite being dismissed for just three against Multan Sultans. He fell just shy of a maiden PSL century in his season opener, scoring 97 runs off 62 balls.

Head-to-head record 

Matches played: 13

Quetta Gladiators wins: 7

Islamabad United wins: 6

What's the weather forecast?

There is no rain forecast, and temperatures will sit at around 21 degrees Celsius at the start of play.

What are the squads?

Quetta Gladiators: James Vince, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shahid Afridi (Covid replacement: Hassan Khan), Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Jason Roy, James Faulkner, Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Ben Duckett, Khurram Shehzad, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Muhammad Ashar Qureshi, Noor Ahmad, Ahsan Ali, Luke Wood

Supplementary round: Ghulam Mudassar, Dan Lawrence

Partial replacements: Will Smeed, Ali Imran, Shimron Hetmyer

Islamabad United: Asif Ali, Hasan Ali, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Azam Khan, Paul Stirling, Colin Munro, Marchant de Lange, Muhammad Akhlaq, Reece Topley, Danish Aziz, Zafar Gohar, Mubasir Khan, M. Zeeshan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ather Mehmood

Supplementary draft: Musa Khan, Zahir Khan

Partial replacement: Mohammad Huraira

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Shadab Khan [Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images]

What are the possible starting XIs?

Quetta Gladiators: Ahsan Ali, Will Smeed, Ben Duckett, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Ashar Qureshi, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, James Faulkner, Sohail Tanvir, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Hasnain

Islamabad United: Alex Hales, Paul Stirling, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mubasir Khan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Marchant de Lange, Mohammad Wasim Jr

What's the prediction?

In the first eight games of PSL7, the side batting second has come out on top on six occasions. As such, whoever, wins the toss is likely win this match.

Where can I watch the game?

In Pakistan, games will be on A Super and PTV Sports.

In the UK games will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Virgin 504).

In Australia, the games will be shown on Foxtel, Fox Sports and Kayo.

In India, Sony Sports Network carries the broadcast rights.

In the Caribbean, Flow Sports hold the broadcast rights, with Willow TV showing the tournament in North America.

SuperSport will provide coverage in South Africa, while Sky Sport will show the matches in New Zealand.

The PCB has partnered with ICC TV and tapmad TV to broadcast PSL7 in: Andorra, Antarctica, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bouvet Island, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Island, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Faroe islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guyana, Heard Island, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgystan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Caledonia, North Korea, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Vietnam and Venezuela.

The commentary line-up includes Nick Knight, David Gower, Mike Haysman, Pommie Mbangwa, Danny Morrison, Bazid Khan, Waqar Younis, Urooj Mumtaz, Sana Mir, Marina Iqbal and Tariq Saeed. Erin Holland, Zainab Abbas and Sikandar Bakht will present the live coverage.

PSL GUIDES (open in external window in app)

Islamabad United

Karachi Kings

Lahore Qalandars

Multan Sultans

Peshawar Zalmi

Quetta Gladiators

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