By our correspondent
LAHORE: A pivotal encounter between Quetta Gladiators and Lahore Qalandars was cut short by nature’s intervention on Thursday evening, as heavy rain coupled with a fierce dust storm swept across Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, forcing officials to call off the match.
With both sides jostling near the top of the table—Quetta and Lahore sitting second and third respectively on nine points—this match carried weight not just in the standings but in momentum. But in a cruel twist for fans and players alike, no winner emerged. Each team walked away with one point, a result that allowed Islamabad United to retain their top spot unchallenged for now.
The evening had begun with promise. Lahore Qalandars won the toss and opted to bat first, seemingly keen to set a total under the lights. However, the innings got off to a shaky start. Fakhar Zaman, usually dependable at the top, was dismissed for a duck on just the third delivery of the match, giving the Gladiators a brief early lift. But that hope was quickly smothered by a composed and determined stand between Abdullah Shafique and young Mohammad Naeem.
Together, they stitched a fluent 102-run partnership that looked destined to anchor a high total. Naeem played with controlled aggression, notching up a 50 from 30 deliveries before being dismissed. Shafique, the more measured of the two, remained unbeaten on 53 off 32 balls, guiding the innings with quiet authority.
Yet just as Lahore looked set to push for a daunting score, the weather intervened with dramatic suddenness. A severe dust storm enveloped the ground, reducing visibility and halting play. Soon after, torrential rain arrived, leaving the pitch unplayable and the outfield soaked. Despite efforts to resume, the conditions never improved, and the match was officially abandoned.
As the groundsmen rolled out the covers and the crowds dispersed into the rainy Lahore night, the unpredictability of the PSL reminded everyone once more that in this league, as in cricket itself, no plan is ever weatherproof.
