Peshawar Zalmi
Quetta Gladiators
Peshawar Zalmi will take on Quetta Gladiators in the 2nd match of PSL 2025 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Both teams qualified for the playoffs last season. Peshawar finished 2nd on the points table, while Quetta secured the 4th spot.
Historically, Peshawar have a slight edge in the head-to-head record. They have won 13 out of 23 matches against Quetta. Quetta have won 10. Peshawar have won 6 matches while batting first and 7 while chasing. In the last 5 meetings, Zalmi won 3 and Quetta won 2.
Both teams have won the PSL title once and have finished as runners-up twice. Peshawar have failed to reach the playoffs 4 times, while Quetta have missed out twice. This match will be important for both sides as they aim to start their season with a win. Conditions in Rawalpindi usually support batting, especially under lights.
Quetta Gladiators have more aggressive batters and better six-hitters across the line-up, giving them the edge in clearing the ropes more often in this match.
The betting tip is...
Most Sixes - Quetta Gladiators
61 %
39 %
Peshawar ZalmiQuetta GladiatorsPeshawar Zalmi will continue to be led by Babar Azam. He will have experienced support from Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Mohammad Ali, Arif Yaqoob, and Hussain Talat. Saim Ayub’s availability for the first few matches will remain uncertain.
Overseas players like Luke Wood from England, Alzarri Joseph from West Indies along with Max Bryant, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Corbin Bosch and George Linde will join the squad. Tom Kohler-Cadmore will most likely bat at number three and will also keep wickets.
Nahid Rana had done very well for Bangladesh recently, but he was ruled out, and Alzarri Joseph remains the Windies’ regular, while Kohler-Cadmore has also done well in many T20 leagues in the last year. South Africa’s Corbin Bosch & George Linde will add another dimension for the team.
Babar, Ayub and Kohler-Cadmore are the key batters in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Max Bryant, Abdul Samad, Mohammad Ali, Corbin Bosch/George Linde, Luke Wood/Alzarri Joseph, Arif Yaqoob, and Ali Raza.
The Quetta Gladiators will be led by Saud Shakeel. He will have strong local support from senior players like Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir and Faheem Ashraf while Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Khurram Shahzad will support the side. These players have featured consistently in Pakistan’s national setup in various formats.
Overseas players will include New Zealand’s Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, and Kyle Jamieson. The squad will also feature West Indies’ Akeal Hosein, South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, and Australian all-rounder Sean Abbott.
All have played in major T20 leagues and will add experience to the squad. The Quetta Gladiators have one of the best overseas players in the league this season and are better than Peshawar Zalmi’s foreign players.
Shakeel, Allen & Rossouw are the key batters in the team.
Predicted Lineup: Saud Shakeel (c), Finn Allen, Rilee Rossouw, Khawaja Nafay, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Mark Chapman, Faheem Ashraf, Kyle Jamieson/Sean Abbott, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mohammad Amir, and Abrar Ahmed.
The Quetta Gladiators will go into this match with a stronger and deeper batting lineup. Players like Finn Allen, Rilee Rossouw, Mark Chapman and Kusal Mendis are known for their aggressive stroke play and six-hitting ability.
Saud Shakeel and Shoaib Malik will add stability while also keeping the scoreboard moving. Even lower down, Sean Abbott and Faheem Ashraf can contribute with the bat.
Peshawar Zalmi will depend heavily on Babar Azam, who has a strong record against Quetta but tends to bat at a slower strike rate. If Saim Ayub plays and gets going, it could boost their chances early in the match.
However, Quetta’s power hitters and batting depth give them a clear edge when it comes to clearing the ropes and dominating the middle and death overs.
