PSL 2021: Match 18 ISL vs QUE Preview, Playing XI Updates, Live Streaming Details & Pitch Report

Islamabad United didn’t quite make the greatest of starts in the second leg of PSL 2021. The team, captained by Shadab Khan, lost to the Lahore Qalandars by five wickets in a nail-biting contest on Wednesday, June 9.

Their batting looked out of sorts as Faheem Ashraf top-scored with a 24-ball 27. Their bowlers were economical, but the bizarre decision of giving Hussain Talat the ball in the final over backfired big time.

Currently placed fourth on the points table, the United are next scheduled to lock horns with the Quetta Gladiators on Friday, June 11 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The Gladiators, on the other hand, are placed at the bottom and need a win to climb the ladder.

In their previous meeting, the United beat them by six wickets. But since they have been bolstered by the inclusion of Andre Russell, the Gladiators can fancy their chances against Shadab’s men next time.

Playing combination for ISL vs QUE

Islamabad United

In the five games, the United’s batting has looked rusty. None of their current bunch of batters have over 100 runs, showing the inconsistency. Even in the previous game, the batsmen got out while trying to play the big shots.

In fact, in the current squad, not a single batter has a fifty in PSL 2021. In the bowling department, Hasan Ali is the leading wicket-taker with eight scalps from five games.

He was also impressive in the last game as he picked up the wickets of Ben Dunk and Mohammad Hafeez. Faheem has picked up five wickets. The other bowlers need to come to the party as well.

Predicted XI

Usman Khawaja, Colin Munro, Rohail Nazir (wk), Shadab Khan (C), Iftikhar Ahmed, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Fawad Ahmed

Bench: Muhammad Musa, Zafar Gohar, Ali Khan, Akif Javed, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Zeeshan Zameer, Brandon King, Muhammad Akhlaq, Umar Amin

Quetta Gladiators

The Gladiators are likely to persist with the opening combination of Saim Ayub and Usman Khan, who scored 81 against the Multan Sultans in the only game he played in. In the middle-order, the role of Faf du Plessis, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Azam Khan will hold prime importance.

Andre Russell needs to step up as well. In the bowling department, Mohammad Hasnain and Zahid Mahmood picked up six wickets each in the first leg of the T20 event.

Mohammad Nawaz has picked only one wicket in 13 overs, but he has been their most frugal bowler with an economy rate of 7.38.

Predicted XI

Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Faf du Plessis, Cameron Delport, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK), Azam Khan, Andre Russell, Jack Wildermuth, Mohammad Nawaz, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Hasnain

Bench:  Abdul Nasir, Anwar Ali, Arish Ali Khan, Hassan Khan, Khurram Shehzad, Zahir Khan, Jake Weatherald, Usman Shinwari

ISL vs QUE Head-to-Head

Overall

Played – 12 | Islamabad United – 5 | Quetta Gladiators – 7 | N/R – 0

ISL vs QUE Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 09:30 PM IST

Live Streaming – Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV