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Pakistan Super League 2026

Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United Prediction & Preview – PSL 2026

Our verdict

Quetta Gladiators

With no dew expected in an afternoon game, runs on the board should count, and Quetta’s top order and spin options suit that scenario.

Toss pick: Islamabad United

Pakistan Super League 2026Quetta GladiatorsIslamabad UnitedGaddafi Stadium

Quetta Gladiators take on Islamabad United in the 9th match of the 2026 Pakistan Super League. Unusually, it is an afternoon start at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 2 April.

Quetta, led by Saud Shakeel, have Rilee Rossouw, Hasan Nawaz and Tom Curran in a squad that also contains Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq and Spencer Johnson. Islamabad, captained by Shadab Khan, can rely on Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali and Chris Green, along with pace options in Mohammad Hasnain and Salman Irshad.

Without dew to help a chasing team, the surface is expected to reward a strong powerplay and a defendable total, with the pitch possibly slowing a little later. The heat could also test the fielders. We pick Quetta Gladiators in a competitive fixture.

Probable XIs

Quetta Gladiators

  1. Saud Shakeel (c)
  2. Hasan Nawaz
  3. Rilee Rossouw
  4. Khawaja Nafay
  5. Jahandad Khan
  6. Usman Tariq
  7. Abrar Ahmed
  8. Ahmed Daniyal
  9. Tom Curran
  10. Bismillah Khan
  11. Wasim Akram Jnr

Islamabad United

  1. Shadab Khan (c)
  2. Andries Gous (wk)
  3. Devon Conway
  4. Mark Chapman
  5. Haider Ali
  6. Sameer Minhas
  7. Faheem Ashraf
  8. Mohammad Hasnain
  9. Salman Irshad
  10. Mehran Mumtaz
  11. Chris Green

Pitch report

The Gaddafi Stadium surface is usually flat, with even bounce and a fast outfield that suits batters, particularly in limited-overs games. New-ball swing is possible and spinners can find some help in the middle overs, though they seldom dominate. In this afternoon fixture dew is not expected to be a factor, so batting first carries an advantage, and the pitch may slow slightly during the second innings.

Weather

Lahore is expected to be hot and dry around the 2:30 pm start, with temperatures of 33–35°C and mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. There is virtually no chance of rain and humidity should be low. A light breeze may offer slight relief, but the intense heat could be demanding on players, especially during the first innings.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United start?

The 9th match of PSL 2026 begins at 2:30 pm local time (9:30 am GMT) on 2 April at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Will dew affect this afternoon match?

Our preview does not expect dew, so bowling sides should keep a better grip on the ball than in night games.

Who do we expect to win QG vs IU?

We lean towards Quetta Gladiators, with first-innings runs likely to be valuable in the afternoon heat.

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