Daily Times

DUBAI – Sarfraz Ahmed (left) of Quetta Gladiators being congratulated by Misbahul Haq of Islamabad United after winning the PSL opener in Dubai.

Tickets for Tuesday’s titanic clash between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at Dubai International Stadium have been sold out, according to the organisers.

“Those who do not have tickets to PSL final match in Dubai are requested not to come to the stadium because all the tickets have been sold out,” PSL chairman Najam Sethi said on his twitter account.

Despite the absence of favourites Afridi-led Peshawar Zalmi, the finale will be no less exciting bringing the curtain down on two weeks of high-octane entertainment where a total of 24 matches were played in Dubai and Sharjah. Gladiators hold the edge going into the final having remained consistent throughout the tournament winning seven out of nine matches so far and defeating Zalmi to secure their final berth directly.

Islamabad who trounced Karachi Kings and then stunned Zalmi to book final berth, have won six out ten matches they played so far. Peshawar Zalmi topped the points table during the league with 12 points on better run rate over Gladiators. Quetta won both the matches against Islamabad in the league stages of the league, winning the PSL opener by eight wickets and the second game by seven wickets.

However, Islamabad will be boosted after their upset win over Zalmi thanks to heroics of Sharjeel Khan (117) and Imran Khalid (4-20). The high-flying Gladiators boast of Kevin Pietersen, Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfaraz Ahmed while United’s batting revolves around Sharjeel Khan, Brad Haddin, Dwayne Smith and captain Misbahul Haq himself.

The key bowlers for Quetta are Aizaz Cheema, Anwar Ali, M Nawaz and Zulfiqar Babar while United bowling revolves around Imran Khalid, M Irfan, M Sami and Andre Russell. Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmad was confident of winning the PSL title. “All credit goes to boys who really worked hard to reach the final. All the players are committed and united and have just one aim that is to lift the coveted PSL trophy,” he said.

“Team performed well against Peshawar Zalmi and bowlers and batsman contributed equally in the team’s triumph. We will play the final as normal match like we played knockout and other matches. We will give our best to win this prestigious event,” United captain Misbahul Haq said.

Teams

Quetta Gladiators: Kevin Pietersen, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Jason Holder, Luke Wright, Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Elton Chigumbura, Bilal Asif, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Nawaz, Saad Nasim, Akbar-ur-Rehman, Bismillah Khan, Kumar Sangakkara, Aizaz Cheema, Ramiz Raja Jr.

Islamabad United: Andre Russell, Misbah ul Haq (captain), Samuel Badree, M Irfan, Brad Haddin, Sharjeel Khan, M Sami, Khalid Latif, Babar Azam, Imran Khalid, Kamran Ghulam, Umar Amin, Sam Billings, Rumman Raees, Amad Butt, Ashar Zaidi, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Siddiq.