LAHORE: In the 21st match of the Pakistan Super League 2025, Lahore Qalandars will face Quetta Gladiators with determination to overcome all odds here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday (today).
Lahore Qalandars have experienced a mixed campaign in PSL 2025. After a setback in their opening game, they bounced back impressively in Match 4 against these same Quetta Gladiators, posting a commanding 219/6 and winning by 79 runs.
With explosive batting from Fakhar Zaman and Sam Billings, combined with the lethal bowling attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Qalandars possess the firepower to challenge any team in the competition.
Quetta Gladiators have been one of the form teams of PSL 2025, building impressive momentum throughout the tournament. Their comprehensive victories, including a recent win against Peshawar Zalmi by 64 runs in Match 17 and another against Karachi Kings on April 25th, have boosted team morale. Under Saud Shakeel’s leadership, they’ve displayed excellent balance between their batting and bowling departments.
The teams came up against each others on 18 occasions and surprisingly have an even record with nine wins each under their belt. The perfectly balanced head-to-head record (9-9) between these teams highlights how evenly matched they’ve been throughout PSL history, setting the stage for another competitive encounter.
In their recent encounters, Lahore Qalandars were a dominant force at Rawalpindi while the fortune reversed in the very next encounter they played against each other. Lahore Qalandars would mostly be relying on Fakhar Zaman - a consistent performer against Quetta Gladiators. Zaman has scored half-centuries in their recent encounters. His aggressive batting at the top sets the tone for Lahore’s innings, as evidenced by his 67 off 39 balls in their previous meeting this season.
They would also look towards Shaheen Shah Afridi to fire all cylinders. The Qalandars’ captain leads from the front with the ball. His early spell in Match 4 reduced Quetta to 10/3, effectively ending the contest before it began. His ability to take wickets with the new ball could be decisive.
Sam Billings, the English wicketkeeper-batsman showed his value with a blistering 50* off just 19 balls in their last encounter with Quetta. His ability to accelerate in the death overs adds significant firepower to Lahore’s batting lineup.
Saud Shakeel, the Gladiators’ captain has been in excellent touch, highlighted by his unbeaten 88 against Lahore in one of their previous meetings. His ability to anchor the innings while maintaining a healthy strike rate makes him the backbone of Quetta’s batting.
Finn Allen, the explosive New Zealand opener can take the game away from opponents in the powerplay overs. His aggressive batting style complements the more measured approach of his teammates.
Mohammad Amir, the experienced left-arm pacer brings match-winning quality to Quetta’s bowling attack. His ability to swing the new ball and execute yorkers at the death makes him a constant threat.
For Quetta Gladiators, all players are available for selection, giving Saud Shakeel a full squad to choose from. This rematch promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched sides.
While Lahore dominated their previous meeting in Rawalpindi with a 79-run victory, Quetta have built significant momentum since then with comprehensive wins against multiple opponents.
