Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi
💚 Islamabad United — Probable XI
Captain: Shadab Khan
1. Andries Gous (wk)
2. Devon Conway
3. Sameer Minhas
4. Shadab Khan (c)
5. Mark Chapman
6. Haider Ali
7. Imad Wasim
8. Faheem Ashraf
9. Richard Gleeson
10. Salman Mirza
11. Salman Irshad
Full squad also includes: Dipendra Singh Airee, Mehran Mumtaz, Chris Green, Mohammad Hasnain, Max Bryant
🦅 Peshawar Zalmi — Probable XI
Captain: Babar Azam
1. Babar Azam (c)
2. Mohammad Haris
3. Kusal Mendis (wk)
4. Aaron Hardie
5. Farhan Yousaf
6. Michael Bracewell
7. Abdul Samad
8. Aamer Jamal
9. Sufiyan Muqeem
10. Shoriful Islam
11. Ali Raza
Full squad also includes: Iftikhar Ahmed, James Vince, Nahid Rana, Jofra Archer, Khurram Shahzad
Islamabad United — three-time PSL champions — cannot afford another loss. At 0 wins, they’re already in a hole after just one match. Shadab Khan, the captain, acknowledged IU were “15-20 short” in M4. Their strength lies in the batting top-order: Andries Gous (flamboyant T20 batter), Devon Conway (world-class WK-bat), Mark Chapman (40 off 21 in M4 — showed his potential). The bowling — Faheem Ashraf’s seam, Imad Wasim + Shadab’s spin, Richard Gleeson’s pace — is well-balanced. But the middle order lacks firepower compared to PSZ’s death-batting unit.
Peshawar Zalmi come in riding the high of one of the great PSL chases. Needing 85 off 35 balls with 4 wickets, Bracewell (35* off 17), Samad (33 off 11), and Jamal (17* off 5) delivered extraordinary hitting to complete the 5th-highest successful chase in PSL history. That win-or-lose mentality from the tail-end is PSZ’s new identity. Babar Azam (39 off 28) returned to his natural opening position and looked much more comfortable than the middle-order experiment. Kusal Mendis showed his PSL quality with 31 off 17. The question is whether PSZ’s bowling (Sufiyan Muqeem, Shoriful Islam, Ali Raza) can restrict ISU’s quality batting lineup.
Average first innings at Gaddafi this PSL 2026 season: 177 runs. The pitch offers good pace and bounce in the powerplay but flattens after 6 overs, creating a batting paradise for stroke makers. Short square boundaries allow aggressive players to score at will. Dew becomes significant from around over 12-13, making chasing teams’ batters very comfortable in the death. The toss winner will elect to bowl first in this evening match.
Weather: Clear Lahore evening, 27°C, no rain. Behind closed doors as PSL 2026 continues.
⭐ Suggested XI
- Devon ConwayWKCISU
- Andries GousISU
- Mark ChapmanISU
- Babar AzamVCPSZ
- Mohammad HarisWKPSZ
- Kusal MendisPSZ
- Michael BracewellPSZ
- Shadab KhanISU
- Faheem AshrafISU
- Aamer JamalPSZ
- Sufiyan MuqeemPSZ
📋 Breakdown
- Wicket-keepers2 — Conway + Haris
- Batters2
- All-rounders4
- Bowlers3
- Islamabad United5 players
- Peshawar Zalmi6 players
Why Conway as captain? World-class WK-opener who gets 120 balls of batting time + keeping bonuses all match. At the flat Gaddafi surface with dew from over 12, ISU’s opener will have the most favourable batting conditions in the second innings. A motivated player who knows ISU cannot afford another loss.
Why Babar as VC? Pakistan’s most technically correct batter is back at the top of the order — his natural position. His 39 off 28 in M3 was controlled and authoritative. Against ISU’s left-arm spin (Imad + Shadab’s wrist spin), Babar’s technique and timing will produce runs. Most users will also have Conway — having Babar as VC from PSZ gives perfect balance.
Why Bracewell as differential? 35* off 17 in one of PSL’s great chases — most fantasy users are still processing M3’s heroics. They will load Babar + Haris (correct) but overlook Bracewell. His combination of batting (SR 150+ since 2024, 2000+ T20 runs) and off-spin bowling in the middle overs makes him a dual-contribution all-rounder at a likely modest price.
📺 Broadcast: Pakistan: PTV Sports, A Sports, Geo Super, Ten Sports, Tapmad. India: NOT on official TV — Tapmad $9.99. UAE: Cricbuzz TV. Australia: Fox Cricket. Tonight: Lahore 7:00 PM local time, behind closed doors.
Also, more here.