PSL’s Oldest Rivalry
Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators: The Complete Rivalry Guide
They contested the very first PSL final in 2016. Ten years on, Islamabad vs Quetta is still the league’s fiercest battle — head-to-head records, famous matches, squads and how to follow every game.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
At a glance
The numbers that define a decade of Islamabad vs Quetta.
PSL meetings
Every fixture since the first on 4 February 2016.
Quetta lead
Gladiators edge it, with one fixture abandoned without a ball bowled.
PSL titles
Islamabad (2016, 2018, 2024) are the league’s most decorated side; Quetta won in 2019.
Highest score in the fixture
Quetta’s record total against Islamabad in PSL 2025 — a 109-run win.
First PSL final
Islamabad beat Quetta to lift the inaugural trophy.
Current captains
Shadab Khan leads Islamabad; Saud Shakeel leads Quetta (PSL 2026).
The story of the rivalry
Born in the PSL’s first week, sealed in its first final.
2016 — The beginning
The first final
Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators met three times in the inaugural PSL — twice in the league stage and then in the final, where Islamabad chased down Quetta’s total to become the league’s first champions. The rivalry was born complete: silverware on the line from day one.
2017–2020 — Quetta’s era
Gladiators on top
Quetta dominated the middle years, winning both fixtures in 2019 and 2020 and lifting their only title in 2019. Their aggressive batting — led by the likes of Shane Watson and Rilee Rossouw — made them Islamabad’s bogey side.
2022–2024 — United strike back
Islamabad’s third crown
Islamabad took both 2023 meetings and went on to win PSL 2024, their record third title, while Quetta’s fortunes dipped. The 2024 season also produced the fixture’s only abandonment — no ball bowled.
2025–2026 — Quetta resurgent
109-run statement
Quetta swept all three 2025 meetings, including a 109-run demolition built on 263/3 — the highest score in the rivalry’s history. Islamabad answered with an 8-wicket win in PSL 2026. The pendulum keeps swinging.
Head-to-head: season by season
Every PSL season’s Islamabad vs Quetta results, compiled from league records. Overall: 23 fixtures, Quetta 12 wins, Islamabad 10 wins, 1 abandoned.
| Season | Results |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Quetta won twice in the league stage; Islamabad won the final |
| 2017 | Islamabad won both — by 1 run and 5 wickets |
| 2018 | One win each |
| 2019 | Quetta won both (43 runs, 7 wickets) |
| 2020 | Quetta won both (5 wickets, 3 wickets) |
| 2022 | One win each |
| 2023 | Islamabad won both (2 wickets, 63 runs) |
| 2024 | Islamabad won one, Quetta won one, one abandoned |
| 2025 | Quetta won all three — including the 109-run record win |
| 2026 | Islamabad won by 8 wickets (April 2026, Gaddafi Stadium) |
Record extremes: highest — Quetta 263/3 (2025); Islamabad’s best — 229; lowest completed totals — Islamabad 117, Quetta 118. Tallies can vary slightly between compilers; the figures above follow the PSL’s official season logs.
Five classic encounters
The games fans still talk about.
PSL 2016 final
Islamabad’s first crown
Chasing in the inaugural final, Islamabad held their nerve to beat Quetta by 6 wickets with 8 balls to spare — the win that made them the PSL’s first champions and set the rivalry’s tone.
PSL 2017
Won by a single run
Islamabad defended their total by the narrowest possible margin — a 1-run victory that remains the closest finish between the two sides.
PSL 2019
Quetta’s title march
A 43-run league-stage win over Islamabad underlined Quetta’s dominance in the season they finally lifted the trophy.
PSL 2025
263/3 — the record
Quetta posted 263/3, the highest total in this fixture’s history, and crushed Islamabad by 109 runs — the rivalry’s most one-sided result.
PSL 2026
United’s reply
Islamabad bounced back with an emphatic 8-wicket win at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore — proof this rivalry never stays one-sided for long.
How to watch Islamabad vs Quetta live
Never miss the next chapter — the legal ways to follow every ball.
| Region | TV | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Ten Sports, A Sports, PTV Sports, Geo Super | Tapmad, Tamasha, Myco apps |
| UK | Sky Sports, ARY Digital | Tapmad |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow Sports |
| Middle East | Cricbuzz TV, Switch TV | Sportzplay |
| Australia & NZ | ESPN | ESPN app |
| Bangladesh | T Sports | Tapmad |
Broadcasters are confirmed by the PCB ahead of each season and can change. Evening PSL matches typically start at 7:30pm PKT; afternoon fixtures around 3:00pm PKT. We never publish unofficial “free live” links — stick to the licensed broadcasters above.
Frequently asked questions
The essentials on Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators.
Who has won more matches, Islamabad United or Quetta Gladiators?
How many PSL titles have Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators won?
When is the next Islamabad vs Quetta match?
Where can I watch Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators live in Pakistan?
What is the highest score in Islamabad vs Quetta matches?
Who won the first PSL final between these two teams?
More PSL guides
Dive deeper: the live-match viewing guide, the full head-to-head breakdown and the squads-and-venues companion.
Figures compiled from PSL season records and leading cricket databases. Where compilers differ slightly, we follow the official season logs.