Islamabad United face Peshawar Zalmi in a must win PSL 2026 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Monday, March 31 at 7:00 PM PST (7:30 PM IST, 2:00 PM GMT). United are under serious pressure after losing their opener to Multan Sultans by 5 wickets, sitting at the bottom of the table with a negative NRR of -0.825.
In contrast, Zalmi enter with momentum after a convincing 5 wicket win over Rawalpindi Pindiz, with Babar Azam’s 327 runs in 10 recent matches making them a formidable batting unit.
Moreover, the head to head record between these two celebrated franchises is perfectly level at 13 wins each from 27 meetings. Shadab Khan needs his three time champions to bounce back urgently, while Babar’s Zalmi can go 4 points clear with a victory tonight.
Additionally, dew is expected in the second innings, giving the captain who wins the toss a clear tactical advantage under the Lahore floodlights.
ISU vs PSZ Betting Odds & Market Analysis
Peshawar Zalmi are slight favourites with their in form batting lineup and recent momentum, while Islamabad United desperately need a result to get their campaign back on track.
| Platform | ISU Win Odds | PSZ Win Odds | Toss Odds (ISU) | Toss Odds (PSZ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 2.15 | 1.72 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
| Stake | 2.10 | 1.75 | 1.91 | 1.89 |
| 4RABET | 2.20 | 1.70 | 1.88 | 1.92 |
| BetVibe | 2.12 | 1.73 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
ISU vs PSZ Head-to-Head Record
These two celebrated franchises are perfectly level across 27 PSL meetings. However, Islamabad lead the recent encounters 3 to 2 in the last five meetings, although Zalmi won the most recent clash.
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad United | 27 | 13 | 13 | 48.15% |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 27 | 13 | 13 | 48.15% |
Recent Results:
- PSZ won by 6 wickets (20 balls remaining) on 2 May 2025
- ISU won by 102 runs on 14 April 2025
- ISU won by 5 wickets (6 balls remaining) on 16 March 2024
- ISU won by 29 runs on 4 March 2024
- PSZ won by 8 runs on 26 February 2024
ISU vs PSZ Squads & Playing XIs
Both teams are expected to field unchanged XIs from their opening games. United’s overseas heavy top order is still adjusting to subcontinental conditions, while Zalmi’s balance looks superior with Babar and Haris firing at the top.
| Islamabad United | Peshawar Zalmi |
|---|---|
| Devon Conway | Kusal Mendis |
| Andries Gous (wk) | Babar Azam (c) |
| Sameer Minhas | Mohammad Haris (wk) |
| Shadab Khan (c) | Abdul Samad |
| Mark Chapman | Michael Bracewell |
| Haider Ali | Aaron Hardie |
| Imad Wasim | Aamer Jamal |
| Faheem Ashraf | Farhan Yousaf |
| Richard Gleeson | Sufiyan Muqeem |
| Salman Mirza | Shoriful Islam |
| Salman Irshad | Ali Raza |
Islamabad United remaining squad: Max Bryant, Dipendra Singh Airee, Shamar Joseph, Chris Green, Mohammad Hasnain, Sameen Gul, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohsin Riaz, Mohammad Faiq, Hamza Sajjad, Mohammad Wasim Jr
Peshawar Zalmi remaining squad: Tanzid Hasan, Brian Bennett, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, Mirza Tahir Baig, Khurram Shahzad, Shahnawaz Dahani, Kashif Ali
ISU vs PSZ Weather Report & Pitch Conditions
Weather Forecast:
- Temperature expected around 19 to 24°C; clear skies during the day turning cooler at night
- No rain concerns with only a 10% chance on forecast
- Humidity moderate at 55 to 65%; dew expected in the second innings
- Light breeze with minimal impact on play
Gaddafi Stadium Pitch Report:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | Batting friendly surface with even bounce; batters have had to work hard for runs in PSL 2026 so far |
| Batting Assistance | Ball comes onto the bat nicely; stroke play is rewarded on this surface with a fast outfield |
| Bowling Assistance | Seamers and spinners get minimal assistance from the surface; wickets come through changes of pace rather than movement |
| Average 1st / 2nd Innings Score | 177 (1st innings) / 150 (2nd innings) at this venue |
| Toss Impact | Teams bowling first hold an advantage due to dew in the second innings; both captains are expected to field first and chase under lights |
ISU vs PSZ Key Players to Watch
- Babar Azam (PSZ): 327 runs in 10 recent matches at avg 40.88. All time highest PSL run scorer with 3,792 runs in 100 matches. His consistency at the Gaddafi Stadium makes him the single biggest threat United will face tonight.
- Mohammad Haris (PSZ): 281 runs in 10 recent matches at SR 151.07. His aggressive intent at the top of the order makes him a constant threat, and a big knock alongside Babar would make Zalmi almost unstoppable.
- Ali Raza (PSZ): 13 wickets in 9 recent matches. Quietly becoming one of PSL 2026’s most effective bowlers with his ability to pick wickets at crucial moments.
- Shadab Khan (ISU): 163 runs at SR 155.23 and 10 wickets in 7 recent matches. An all round performance from the captain is the single most likely route to a United victory tonight.
- Andries Gous (ISU): 140 runs in 4 recent matches at avg 46.67 and SR 157.3. The South African wicketkeeper batter has been in exceptional touch and provides explosive batting in the top order.
- Salman Irshad (ISU): 11 wickets in 6 recent matches. His ability to take wickets at crucial moments makes him United’s most dangerous bowling weapon against Zalmi’s quality top order.
ISU vs PSZ Live Streaming & TV Broadcasting Guide
PSL 2026 will not be telecast in India due to political tensions between the two countries.
| Region | TV Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | A Sports, PTV Sports, Geo Super, Ten Sports | Tapmad, Tamasha, Myco |
| Australia & New Zealand | ESPN | ESPN app |
| Bangladesh | T Sports | Tapmad |
| United Kingdom | ARY Digital | ARY Plus |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow by Cricbuzz |
| Sri Lanka | Dialog TV | Dialog ViU app |
| Middle East & North Africa | Cricbuzz TV on ELIFE, Switch TV | Cricbuzz, STARZPLAY |
