Summary Rawalpindiz win the toss and choose to field against Quetta Gladiators in PSL 11 Match 18 in Karachi as both sides look to improve their early tournament form.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Rawalpindiz won the toss and elected to field first against Quetta Gladiators in the 18th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan opted to bowl and invited Saud Shakeel’s Gladiators to take first strike in a contest that marks the first-ever meeting between the two sides, with Rawalpindiz featuring in their maiden PSL season.
Both teams entered the fixture under pressure after modest starts to their campaigns. Quetta Gladiators have managed just one victory in four matches, while Rawalpindiz are still searching for their first win of the tournament.
The Gladiators began their campaign with a 14-run defeat against Karachi Kings but responded with a convincing 40-run victory over fellow newcomers Hyderabad Kingsmen. However, they were unable to build momentum and suffered consecutive defeats against Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United.
Rawalpindiz, meanwhile, have endured a difficult initiation to the league, losing all four of their opening fixtures against Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans. Their winless run has placed them at the bottom of the points table, intensifying the importance of the clash in Karachi.
Quetta Gladiators currently sit sixth in the standings, just above Rawalpindiz in eighth position, with both sides aiming to revive their campaigns as the tournament progresses.
The match presents an opportunity for both teams to shift momentum, with the Gladiators seeking consistency and Rawalpindiz desperate to register their first points of PSL 11.
Playing XIs
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Sam Harper, Hasan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay, Bevon Jacobs, Rilee Rossouw, Jahandad Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Khalil Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq.
Rawalpindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Usman Khawaja, Yasir Khan, Abdullah Fazal, Mubasir Khan, Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Saad Masood, Asif Afridi, Mohammad Amir and Ben Sears.
