PSL 2020: Quetta Gladiators lose three wickets in fifth over against Islamabad United

The Gladiators will be led by former captain Safaraz Ahmed, while Shadab Khan will leader United

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Quetta Gladiators have lost second wicket in the opening match of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on Thursday. 

After being sent in to bat, two-time champions United were all out for 168 with five balls to spare out of their allotted 20 overs.

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Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan said the two-time champions would aim to put a target in excess of 180 on the board, promising to keep things simple and keep giving young players a chance. They will line up with Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi Dawid Malan, and Colin Ingram as their overseas players.

Hours before the opening match, the defending champions were dealt a major blow when middle-order batsman Umar Akmal was barred from all cricket-related activities by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The Gladiators is led by former captain Safaraz Ahmed, who has been leading this side since the inception of Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Gladiators are expected to be a force to be reckoned this season with the renowned local and international players despite that teenage pace sensation Naseem Shah is out of at least two matches of the tournament.

Quetta Gladiators will want to start the tournament with a win as it has top run - scorer Shane Watson and his Australian counterpart Ben Cutting, along with England’s Jason Roy and fast bowlers Tymal Mills and Windies Keemo Paul.

Ahmed Shehzad, Khurram Manzoor and Sarfaraz are the local batsmen while Sohail Khan, Mohammad Hasnain and Mohammad Nawaz are the bowlers.

South African pacer Dale Steyn is also there for the United. Besides him, Luke Ronchi, Colin Munro, Phil Salt and Dawid Malan make up the remaining international players for United.

Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Muhammad Musa, Rumman Raees and Hussain Talat are the national players who might push the united to win this year.

Squads:

Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Nawaz, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shane Watson, Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Hasnain, Ahsan Ali, Naseem Shah, Jason Roy, Ben Cutting, Sohail Khan, Tymal Mills, Abdul Nasir, Arish Ali Khan, Azam Khan, Keemo Paul, Khurram Manzoor, Zahid Mehmood

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali, Luke Ronchi, Hussain Talat, Amad Butt, Musa Khan, Rizwan Hussain, Dale Steyn, Colin Ingram, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Phil Salt, Zafar Gohar, Akif Javed, Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Saif Badar, Dawid Malan