FANTASY
Follow UsNOTE: Stats updated until 27 February 2021
This match was originally scheduled to be held on Monday (March 1) but has now been postponed to Tuesday (March 2) after Fawad Ahmed tested positive for COVID-19.
Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators both will come into this match on the back of losses against Peshawar Zalmi. But the former definitely find themselves in a better position, having won two of their three matches so far this season. On the other hand, Quetta are yet to secure a win in Pakistan Super League 2021.
The Gladiators have the upper hand in past contests between the two teams, winning seven and losing four matches. They’ve also won each of their last four games against United.
PSL HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall: Matches – 11 | Islamabad United – 4 Wins | Quetta Gladiators – 7 Wins
Last 5 Matches: Islamabad United – 1 Win | Quetta Gladiators – 4 Wins
SUGGESTED TEAMS
GROUND DETAILS & TEAM COMBINATION
Amazingly, in all 10 matches completed in PSL 2021 until Saturday (February 27) – all at the National Stadium in Karachi – teams winning the toss have opted to bowl first and gone on to win on each occasion. So, the toss could play an important role in this game which will also take place at the same venue.
While spinners (8.3) might have a better economy rate than pacers (8.8) so far this season, it’s wickets that count in fantasy cricket and, on that front, pacers stand out. The faster bowlers (18.3) have a much better strike rate when compared to spinners (38.5) and they have taken more than 80% of the wickets in PSL 2021 so far. That is why we’ve gone with a pace-heavy bowling line-up.
CAPTAIN SUGGESTION
Alex Hales has been in incredible form and it is hard to look past him as the captain of our fantasy team. After ending the 2020/21 Big Bash League season as the top run-scorer, Hales has made 116 runs in three innings in PSL 2021 so far. In each of those knocks, he has got starts but hasn’t managed a big score yet. But in the form that he is in, a big innings might be around the corner.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Hales could score 16-39 runs in this match.
X-FACTORS
The Gladiators haven’t done well so far this season and they will be looking to international stars such as Faf du Plessis to help them turn things around. Du Plessis played his first game of the season on Friday (February 26) and did show his class during a fluent 37. Since the start of 2018, the former South Africa captain has a batting average of 37.1 in T20 cricket which shows that he is a very reliable batsman.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts du Plessis could score 14-31 runs in this match.
Hasan Ali has made a decent start to PSL 2021, having picked up four wickets in three matches so far. While he didn’t have a great year with the ball in T20 cricket in 2020, this year he has managed to take six wickets at a strike rate of 16 in four matches so far. With fast bowlers having done well in the tournament until now, Ali is a good pacer to consider.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Ali could take 0-1 wickets in this match.
Despite his team’s poor start to PSL 2021, Sarfaraz Ahmed has impressed with the bat in his last two innings. Against Zalmi, he scored a brilliant 40-ball 81. While it wasn’t enough for a first win of the season for Quetta, it showed how good Sarfaraz can be when at his best. He can also get you some valuable points with his wicketkeeping.
Our Criclytics player projector predicts Sarfaraz could score 11-28 runs in this match.
