Peshawar Zalmi Predicted Playing XI vs Quetta Gladiators - PSL 2026, Match 23

Peshawar Zalmi cricket team [Source: AFP]

The Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators PSL 2026 clash is set to take place at the iconic National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi. The all exciting match is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, with fans able to catch the live action from 7:30 PM IST.

Peshawar Zalmi vs Quetta Gladiators Preview

The Peshawar Zalmi, under captain Babar Azam, are currently the table-toppers of PSL 2026, having won five of the six matches they have played. Courtesy of Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam, who were their top-order saviours, the batting responsibilities were also handled by Mohammad Haris and Michael Bracewell.

With Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana, two of their key bowling weapons, out of the PSL, Zalmi will now have to navigate a better playing XI to adjust their strike weapons. Nevertheless, Sufiyan Muqeem and Iftikhar Ahmed are still armed with their weaponry to give Quetta Gladiators a tough challenge.

Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators will see Hassan Nawaz and Saud Shakeel take care of the top order, with Shamyl Hussain also among the most consistent performers in PSL 2026 so far. In the bowling department, the Gladiators have Abrar Ahmed and Ahmed Daniyal as their strike weapons, who can easily disrupt Peshawar Zalmi's momentum.

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Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI vs Quetta Gladiators - PSL 2026 Match 23

Top Order- Mohammad Haris, Babar Azam (c), Kusal Mendis, James Vince

Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam will form the top order for Peshawar Zalmi, as they have in the past matches. So far, Haris has piled up 114 runs at an average of 22.8. However, what matters is his strike rate, which reads 180.95, underlining his powerplay abilities with the bat.

Babar Azam has been superb with his skills, averaging 57.5. Although his strike rate is debatable, his consistency outlines that Zalmi will have a solid foundation at the top.

Following Azam at No. 3, Kusal Mendis, the current highest run-scorer of Peshawar Zalmi, will continue. So far, Mendis has been excellent, maintaining consistency and striking at regular intervals, and has already recorded one century and two half-centuries in the tournament.

At number 4, James Vince is set to debut for Peshawar if given a chance in the upcoming clash. Vince presents a strong prospect, given that he scored an average of 37.57 in the recently concluded SA20 league at a strike rate of 152.91. 

Being a reliable batter, he could be a solid cushion to fill the spot, as Farhan Yousaf hasn’t been able to prove himself, averaging only 15.66 from his five appearances.

Middle Order and All-Rounders- Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Iftikhar Ahmed, Aamir Jamal

The New Zealand batter, Michael Bracewell, has been a solid performer for Zalmi so far at No. 5. Bracewell has piled up 101 runs from his five appearances at a strike rate of 177.19. With the ball too, he has scalped three wickets while being economical, giving away only 104 runs from his 13 overs. Hence, he is a suitable choice for middle-order acceleration.

Following Bracewell, Abdul Samad will fill the No. 6 spot, who has also been productive with his high strike rate of 242.42. He has hit 8 sixes and four boundaries in PSL 2026 so far and can be a massive contributor in the late blitz.

Iftikhar Ahmed and Aamir Jamal will conclude the all-rounder segment. Although neither of these players has been super impactful with the bat, their bowling abilities cannot be doubted.

While Iftikhar Ahmed has scalped nine wickets from four matches to become the second-highest wicket-taker for Zalmi, Aamir Jamal has also bagged four wickets while being slightly expensive at an economy rate of 10.32.

Bowlers- Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza, Shahnawaz Dahani

With Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana out of PSL 2026, Zalmi have to find two replacements, where young pace sensation Ali Raza and Shahnawaz Dahani come in handy. 

The 27-year-old Dahani has been very impactful in the National T20 Cup 2026, where, for Karachi, he has scalped eight wickets from just four matches, while being slightly expensive at 11.05.

Meanwhile, Ali Raza, another right-arm pace bowler for Pakistan, will be a solid addition to Zalmi to strengthen their pace department. 

In the Under-19 World Cup 2026, Raza was one of the highest wicket-takers in the tournament with 13 wickets to his name. In PSL 2026, in the match against Rawalpindiz, he was impactful with his two-wicket haul at a strike rate of 9.00.

With the pace department led by these two young sensations, Sufiyan Muqeem will be leading the spin department, having the highest number of wickets for Peshawar Zalmi so far in PSL 2026, while bowling at a solid economy rate of 6.45.

With this, Peshawar Zalmi boast six bowling options in their squad, with three quality all-rounders and a strong top order alongside explosive finishers. With in-form performers added to the playing XI, Peshawar Zalmi's best field could be a threat to Quetta Gladiators in the upcoming clash.

Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI vs Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Haris, Babar Azam (c), Kusal Mendis, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Iftikhar Ahmed, Aamir Jamal, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza, Shahnawaz Dahani

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