Saud Aims to Maintain Momentum at Gaddafi Stadium, Hosts PSL 10 Final

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators’ captain, Saud Shakeel, voiced his strong desire on Friday to deliver their utmost effort and secure the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 title.

Shakeel, who took over the captaincy from Rilee Rossouw before this year’s competition, guided his team to their first PSL final appearance in six years.

The Gladiators, who previously won the title in 2019 under Sarfaraz Ahmed, concluded the league stage this year in the top position with 15 points from 10 games.

The team under Saud’s leadership suffered only two defeats, including one against Qalandars, and also had one match with the same opponent end with no result.

Saud, in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressed his excitement about leading the Gladiators to the PSL final and pledged to give their best to win the trophy.

“I am very happy to be leading Quetta Gladiators to an HBL PSL final and we will try our best to win the trophy,” Saud stated.

The Gladiators began their PSL 10 campaign strongly, defeating Peshawar Zalmi by a significant 80-run margin in Rawalpindi.

The 2019 champions then experienced two tough losses against Qalandars and Karachi Kings, which resulted in a drop in the standings.

After these consecutive defeats, they made a remarkable comeback by winning six of their remaining seven matches, particularly dominating at the Gaddafi Stadium, which will be the venue for the highly anticipated final on Sunday.

“Gaddafi Stadium has proven to be a favorable ground for us, where we have won five of our six matches, and we aim to keep this winning streak going,” Saud mentioned.

“Our team has shown great form throughout the tournament, and various players have risen to the occasion during tough moments to support the team,” he further added.

Saud Shakeel also recognized Qalandars as a challenging opponent for the crucial match, while expressing his hope that fans would witness a highly competitive game.

“Lahore Qalandars are a tough opposition for such an important game and I am sure that the fans will witness a good final.”