Islamabad United played Peshawar Zalmi in Match 7 of the Pakistan Super League 2026 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, with an 8:00 PM PKT (UTC+5) evening start. The 27,000-capacity Gaddafi Stadium hosted one of PSL’s oldest and most consistent rivalries, as the capital faced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa franchise.

Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi have been meeting in PSL since the league’s inaugural 2016 season. Between them, they hold three titles: Islamabad won in 2016 and 2018, Peshawar claimed the 2017 crown. Their rivalry carries a genuine north-south edge, with the federal capital going up against the KP provincial franchise.

Islamabad United’s squad is built on analytics and depth. Shadab Khan leads the bowling with his wrist spin while contributing aggressive lower-order runs. Alex Hales brings the big-hitting power that England’s T20 circuit developed in him over years. Hasan Ali’s pace and skill with the new ball made United’s attack one of the competition’s most threatening.

Peshawar Zalmi brought a blend of youth and experience to this fixture. Wahab Riaz, a PSL veteran with over a decade of franchise cricket behind him, provided leadership with the ball. Shimron Hetmyer’s Caribbean power in the middle order was a constant threat, and Kamran Akmal’s keeping and opening batting completed their lineup.

When to watch: The 8:00 PM PKT start on March 31 converts to 3:00 PM GMT (London), 8:30 PM IST (India), 10:00 AM EST (New York), and 1:00 AM AEST on April 1 (Sydney). For current local time, check Lahore time and Pakistan time.

Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore holds 27,000 fans and has served as Pakistan’s primary cricket venue since 1959. The surface at Gaddafi traditionally offers pace and bounce early, rewarding aggressive powerplay bowling before flattening into a batting-friendly surface by the second innings. Under lights, the dew factor can significantly assist batsmen in the chase.

The Islamabad vs Peshawar contest remains one of PSL’s most historically resonant fixtures. With both sides carrying genuine title ambitions for 2026, this early-round clash carried significant weight in establishing the psychological edge for the rest of their campaigns.