KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators received a major boost ahead of their Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine playoffs encounter against Islamabad United which will be played on Friday at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
Quetta’s star middle-order batter Sherfane Rutherford will join the team on Wednesday after leaving the squad on March 9 due to personal reasons.
He didn’t feature in the Gladiators’ last three matches — Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans — one of which was a must-win game.
Rutherford’s return is surely good news for Rilee Russouw as the left-handed batter is aiming to guide his side to their second PSL title as he has scored 151 runs in six innings during PSL 9 at a strike-rate of 148.03.
The Caribbean player proved his prowess earlier this season when he played a blinder of a knock to power Quetta Gladiators to win over Karachi Kings by five wickets on the last ball in the 16th game of PSL 9 on February 29.
Quetta were 89 for five when the Windies' duo of Rutherford and Akeal Hosein took charge of the chase and completed it.
The pair added 80 runs for the fourth wicket with Rutherford scoring 31-ball 58 which included six maximums and a four while Akeal supported with a valuable 22 of 17 balls.
Quetta have qualified for the PSL 9 playoffs where they will take on Islamabad United on Friday (March 15) in Karachi. The winner of the match will take on the loser of the first eliminator, which will be played between Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi in the same stadium on March 14.
PSL 2024 playoffs matches
March 14, 2024, Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi, National Bank Stadium
March 15, 2024, Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators, National Bank Stadium
March 16, 2024, Eliminator Winner v Qualifier Runner-up, National Bank Stadium
March 18, 2024, Final, National Bank Stadium
Atique ur Rehman Atique ur Rehman is a senior reporter for Geo News.