Islamabad United, despite leading the points table, enter the match on the back of two heavy defeats that have narrowed the gap between them and the chasing pack. With Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators trailing by just one point, United face a strategic dilemma — go all-in to protect their lead or continue testing bench strength.
Quetta Gladiators, buoyed by recent performances, have a chance to leapfrog to the summit with a win. Their previous match against Lahore Qalandars was abandoned due to a dust storm and subsequent heavy rain, but the shared point kept them within striking distance of top spot.
The match is set against the backdrop of a lively Gaddafi Stadium pitch, which has provided pace, bounce, and value for shots — conditions that could favour explosive batting and fast bowling.
With both teams boasting match-winners capable of swinging the momentum singlehandedly, the outcome may well hinge on who seizes key moments under pressure.
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Abrar Ahmed, Hassan Nawaz, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Mark Chapman, Rilee Rossouw, Kyle Jamieson, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Faheem Ashraf, Khurram Shahzad, Finn Allen
Islamabad United: Kyle Mayers, Sahibzada Farhan, Colin Munro, Salman Ali Agha (c), Andries Gous (wk), Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Shahzad, Naseem Shah, Salman Irshad