Quetta face Peshawar in must-win HBL PSL 6 match

Quetta Gladiators will face Peshawar Zalmi in today’s HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) clash in Abu Dhabi.

Both sides lost their first match after the restart as Zalmi failed to get over the line against the Lahore Qalandars while Gladiators were thumped by Islamabad United, yesterday.   

The match is of great importance for Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Gladiators, who are at the bottom of the points table, as a defeat would severely affect their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. A poor net run-rate is also a major hurdle in their progression at the event.

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On the other hand, Peshawar, who are at the fourth position in the points table, will also be keen to register a victory and ease their path towards the playoffs.

Peshawar Zalmi captain Wahab Riaz: “We need to improve that in the next game for sure. I think the role given to Shoaib [Malik] bhai, he’s doing wonderfully. Pleased to have him in the team. Rashid is a world class bowler, there’s no doubt about that. Today he made the difference. He killed the momentum we had. We should have played him better, we shouldn’t have lost wickets to him. But that is cricket, that’s how it goes. I think Inzamam [batting coach] is a legend of the game and there’s a lot to learn from him and hopefully the batters get the best out of him and utilize it in the game.”

Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed: “Score was low, and bowling wasn’t good, we didn't expect them [Islamabad United] to chase so quickly. Got to praise [Colin] Munro and [Usman] Khawaja. We didn’t bowl well, and of course batting wasn’t good either. But we also need help winning the toss.”

Squads                                                  

Quetta Gladiators – Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Abdul Nasir, Andre Russell (partially available), Arish Ali Khan, Azam Khan, Cameron Delport, Faf du Plessis, Hassan Khan, Jack Wildermuth, Jake Weatherald, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Usman Shinwari, Zahid Mahmood and Zahir Khan

Peshawar Zalmi– Wahab Riaz (c), Abrar Ahmed, Amad Butt, Bismillah Khan, David Miller (partially available), Fabian Allen (partially available), Fidel Edwards (partially available), Haider Ali, Hazratullah Zazai, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Irfan Snr, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Shoaib Malik, Umaid Asif and Waqar Salamkheil