The 2025 Pakistan Super League has reached its crucial knockout stage, and all eyes are now on Qualifier 1 between table-toppers Quetta Gladiators and defending champions Islamabad United. The high-stakes clash will take place at the iconic Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, May 21.
Match Details
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Fixture: Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United, Qualifier 1
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Date: May 21, 2025
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Time: Evening (Local Time)
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Venue: Gaddafi Cricket Stadium, Lahore
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Format: Winner progresses to the Final; loser gets a second chance in Eliminator 2
Team Overview
Quetta Gladiators have been the standout side of PSL 2025. With seven wins from ten matches, they topped the league table and come into the playoffs unbeaten in their last five games. Their most recent win came against Multan Sultans in a tense contest, and they will be hoping to carry that momentum into this crucial clash.
Islamabad United, meanwhile, started the tournament strongly but had a rough patch in the second half of the league stage. Despite losing three of their last five round-robin games, they bounced back emphatically with a dominant win over Karachi Kings in their final game, showing signs of regaining form at just the right time.
Head-to-Head Record
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Last 5 Matches:
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Quetta Gladiators: 3 Wins
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Islamabad United: 1 Win
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No Result: 1
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In PSL 2025:
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Quetta Gladiators won both encounters, including a massive 109-run victory in their most recent clash.
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Probable Playing XIs
Quetta Gladiators (Probable XI):
Saud Shakeel (c), Khawaja Nafay, Avishka Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jnr., Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed, Khurram Shahzad
Islamabad United (Probable XI):
Shadab Khan (c), Alex Hales, Sahibzada Farhan, Rassie van der Dussen, Haider Ali, Salman Agha, Imad Wasim, Ben Dwarshuis, Salman Irshad, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Tymal Mills
Key Players to Watch
Quetta Gladiators:
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Hasan Nawaz has been a revelation with 317 runs at an average of 63.40. His explosive style could be key at the top.
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Abrar Ahmed leads the bowling charts for Quetta with 15 wickets at 18.20. His spin could prove tricky on a slow Lahore pitch.
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Faheem Ashraf, with both bat and ball, has provided crucial breakthroughs and late-order stability.
Islamabad United:
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Sahibzada Farhan has been their star with the bat, scoring 394 runs including a century and two fifties.
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Alex Hales is coming off a blistering 88-run knock and will look to dominate the powerplay.
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Shadab Khan is in red-hot form with both bat and ball. His 4-wicket haul in the last game shows he’s peaking at the right time.
Pitch & Weather Report
The Gaddafi Stadium pitch has offered something for both batters and bowlers. While the average first-innings score is around 160 runs, the trend this season shows teams chasing have had better success. Expect some early swing and a bit of turn for spinners.
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Weather: Clear skies and dry weather expected
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Temperature: Around 34-35°C in the evening
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Toss: Teams will likely prefer to bowl first
Probable Match Scenarios
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If Quetta bat first, they’ll aim for a score above 170, relying on their in-form middle order.
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If Islamabad chase, their aggressive openers like Hales and Farhan can put the pressure on early.
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Spin battle between Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan could be decisive.
Match Prediction
While Islamabad United showed glimpses of brilliance in their last game, the Quetta Gladiators enter this Qualifier with a stronger overall record, more consistency, and psychological edge from their previous victories over United.
Prediction:
Quetta Gladiators to win and book their place in the PSL 2025 Final.
However, expect a close contest if Islamabad’s top order fires early and Shadab produces another all-round performance.