Heavy rain and strong winds caused major disruption to the Pakistan Super League match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, with the toss delayed due to the adverse weather conditions.
The situation on the ground quickly turned chaotic as strong gusts made it difficult for ground personnel to manage the shelters. In dramatic scenes, several members of the ground staff were almost swept off their feet as they tried to secure the pitch. Some even lost their balance and fell as the wind dragged the blankets across the square.
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The incident captured on video has since gone viral on social media. The footage shows ground staff struggling to hold the covers in heavy rain, with the wind repeatedly lifting and pulling them away. At one point two members are seen falling to the ground trying to stop the covers from flying off.
Persistent rain has left the pitch soaked and conditions far from ideal for play. With the showers continuing and the pitch remaining under cover, concerns are growing whether the full match will be possible.
The draw for PSL 2026’s seventh match, originally scheduled for 6:30 PM PST, was delayed as heavy rain lashed the stadium just minutes before proceedings began. Ground staff rushed to cover the square before taking cover, but unrelenting weather prevented play.
Both teams entered the match with different tempos. Islamabad United are looking to bounce back after a heavy defeat to Multan Sultans in their opening match. Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi are high on confidence after successfully chasing a target of 215 runs in their previous outing.
PSL SQUADS
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Salman Irshad, Andries Gous, Devon Conway, Faheem Ashraf, Mehran Mumtaz, Mark Chapman, Nisar Ahmed, Mir Hamza Sajjad, Sameen Gul, Sameer Minhas, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohamdesa Mohameda, Mohamde Dipendra, Riazq Chris Green and Mohammad Salman Mirza.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, Tanzid Hasan, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Briwazan Far Younet, Shahna, Kashif Far Younet, Shahna Mohammad Basit and Shoriful Islam.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
31 March 2026 21:09 IST
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