Quetta Gladiators Prepare for PSL 10 Under New Captain Saud Shakeel

KARACHI, Pakistan — Quetta Gladiators‘ newly-appointed captain Saud Shakeel shared his ambitious plans for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, emphasizing the team’s commitment to perform well this season.

The Gladiators, former champions, have perennially been viewed as strong contenders, having reached two PSL finals before winning the coveted title in 2019 under the captaincy of Sarfaraz Ahmed. Despite their past success, the team has struggled drastically in recent seasons, failing to qualify for the playoffs for four consecutive years.

This lack of success prompted a leadership overhaul, leading to South African Rilee Rossouw stepping in to replace Ahmed. Under Rossouw, Quetta managed to break their playoff drought but faced a disappointing exit at the hands of Islamabad United, losing by 39 runs in the eliminator match.

Shakeel acknowledged the franchise’s recent shortcomings but is determined to revitalize the team’s prospects. ‘The last few seasons haven’t been good for Quetta, and like all other teams, we have tried our best to assemble a quality squad,’ Shakeel said. He added, ‘We look forward to playing well and entertaining the fans this time around.’

The captain expressed confidence in a well-rounded squad, stating, ‘Our squad looks well balanced, and it will be exciting to lead Quetta Gladiators this season.’

Quetta Gladiators will kick off their PSL 10 campaign against fierce rivals Peshawar Zalmi on April 12 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The roster includes several notable players: Finn Allen, Faheem Ashraf, and Mark Chapman (all platinum), Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Rilee Rossouw (all diamond), as well as Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Saud Shakeel (all gold).