Quetta Gladiators facts for kids
| کوئٹہ گلیڈی ایٹرز | ||
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| Nickname(s) |
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|---|---|---|
| League | Pakistan Super League | |
| Personnel | ||
| Captain | Rilee Rossouw | |
| Coach | Shane Watson | |
| Bowling coach | Shaun Tait | |
| Owner | Nadeem Omar | |
| Team information | ||
| City | Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan | |
| Founded | 2015 | |
| Home ground | Bugti Stadium | |
| Capacity | 257,359 | |
| History | ||
| PSL wins | 1 (2019) | |
| Official website | www.quettagladiators.com | |
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The Quetta Gladiators are a professional Twenty20 cricket team from Pakistan. They play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The team is based in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan, Pakistan.
The Gladiators are known for their purple and gold colors. They won the PSL championship in 2019. The team's home ground is the Bugti Stadium. Rilee Rossouw is the current captain, and Shane Watson is the head coach. The team's top run-scorer is Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz has taken the most wickets.
Contents
Team History
The Quetta Gladiators team was created in 2015. This happened when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) started the Pakistan Super League. The team was bought by Omar Associates for $11 million.
Early Seasons: Runners-Up in 2016 and 2017
In their first season in 2016, Quetta Gladiators started strong. They won many games and were one of the first teams to reach the play-offs. They finished second in the league. In the first play-off match, they beat Peshawar Zalmi by just one run. This win sent them to the final. However, they lost the final match to Islamabad United.
Ahmed Shehzad was the team's best run-scorer in 2016. Mohammad Nawaz took the most wickets.
For the 2017 season, Quetta Gladiators kept many of their players. They also added new international players. In their first game, they won a close match against Lahore Qalandars. They also beat Karachi Kings.
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During the tournament, they had some ups and downs. They lost to Islamabad United but then won an exciting game against Lahore Qalandars. In that match, Kevin Pietersen scored 88 runs. Quetta Gladiators were the first team to qualify for the play-offs again.
In the play-off, they beat Peshawar Zalmi by one run in another thrilling game. This meant they reached the final for the second year in a row. In the final, they faced Peshawar Zalmi again. Unfortunately, Quetta lost the final match. Some of their key players, like Kevin Pietersen and Rilee Rossouw, were not able to play in the final.
2018 Season
In 2018, Quetta Gladiators had a mixed season. They lost their first game to Karachi Kings. But they quickly bounced back with a big win against Lahore Qalandars.
They continued to win some games and lose others. Kevin Pietersen and Shane Watson were important players, scoring many runs. They won some very close matches, showing their fighting spirit. The Gladiators reached the play-offs in 2018.
2019 Season: Champions!
The 2019 season was a great one for the Quetta Gladiators! They played very well in the group stage, winning seven out of ten matches. They finished second in the league table.
In the play-offs, they defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 10 runs. This win sent them to the final match. In the final, held in Karachi, the Gladiators played Peshawar Zalmi again. Quetta Gladiators won the match by 8 wickets, becoming champions for the first time! Mohammad Hasnain was named the man of the match for his excellent performance.
Recent Seasons (2020-2024)
After their championship win, the Gladiators faced some tougher seasons. In 2020, they started well but then had a losing streak. They finished fifth and did not make it to the play-offs. This was the first time they missed the play-offs.
In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the team continued to struggle. They finished at the bottom or near the bottom of the league table. However, in 2024, they improved their performance. They won five out of ten matches and reached the play-offs again, finishing fourth.
Team Identity
The Quetta Gladiators' team name and logo were shown on January 6, 2016. The logo features a Roman 'Galea' helmet, like those worn by gladiators. Two bats are placed like swords next to the helmet. The team's main colors are purple and gold.
The team's cheer is Kai Kai Quetta. This comes from a war cry used by the Baloch Regiment during World War II. It means 'we are coming'.
Team Songs (Anthems)
The Quetta Gladiators have had several official songs over the years:
- 2016: "Chaa Jaye Quetta" by Faakhir Mehmood
- 2017: "Chah Gaya Quetta" by Faakhir Mehmood
- 2018: "Agae Shaan Se Hum" by Zordaar11
- 2019: "We The Gladiators" by Dwayne Bravo
- 2020: "Shaan-e-Pakistan Hain Hum" by Harris Jalil Mir
- 2021: "Aar Ya Paar" by Raamis
- 2022: "Shaan-e-Pakistan" by Bilal Maqsood
- 2023: "We're The Champions" by Dwayne Bravo
Team Ambassadors
In 2017, Quetta Gladiators introduced their official mascot, "Gladdy." They were the first team in the PSL to have a mascot.
They also chose famous people to be their team ambassadors. These included pop singer Annie Khalid, footballer Kaleemullah, and MMA fighter Ahmed Mujtaba. Later, actress Maya Ali and singer Faakhir Mehmood also became ambassadors. Maya Ali continued her role in later years, joined by actor Bilal Ashraf. In 2022, actors Adnan Siddiqui and Ushna Shah, and comedian Syed Shafaat Ali were featured in the team's anthem video.
Sponsors
Many companies have sponsored the Quetta Gladiators. For example, Edenrobe and ACM Gold were early sponsors. Later, Jubilee Insurance and Engro became main sponsors. Other sponsors have included KFC, Soneri Bank, and Domino's.
| Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor (chest) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Chest branding | Sleeve branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Edenrobe | ACM Gold | PTV Sports, Zong | ||
| 2017 | Jubilee Insurance | Omar Associates | Master Oil | PTV Sports | |
| 2018 | Engro | Olpers | Engro Foods | ||
| 2019 | |||||
| 2020 | Engro | Master Oil | KFC, Ignite, ﺟﻨﮓ | ||
| 2021 | BRB Group | Lotte Choco Pie | BRB Group | KFC, Soneri Bank, Berocca | |
| 2022 | Meiji | Hemani, Soneri Bank, KFC | |||
| 2023 | BJ Sports | MCW Sports | F&A Global | Domino's | |
| 2024 | Kingsmen Enterprise | Ziewnic | TCL | Stile, United Bank Limited |
Current Team Players
Here is a list of the players currently on the Quetta Gladiators team.
|
| No. | Name | Nationality | Birth date | Category | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsmen | ||||||||
| 9 | Rilee Rossouw |  South Africa |
9 October 1989 | Platinum | Left-handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | Captain |
| 20 | Jason Roy |  England |
21 July 1990 | Diamond | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2022 | |
| 32 | Laurie Evans | England |
12 October 1987 | Supplementary | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | |
| 33 | Will Smeed | England |
26 October 2001 | Silver | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | 2022 | |
| 50 | Sherfane Rutherford |  West Indies |
15 August 1998 | Platinum | Left-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 2024 | |
| 59 | Saud Shakeel |  Pakistan |
5 September 1997 | Silver | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2023 | Vice-captain |
| 84 | Umar Amin | Pakistan |
16 October 1989 | N/A | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | 2024 | Partial replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga |
| 100 | Omair Yousuf | Pakistan |
27 December 1998 | Silver | Right-handed | — | 2023 | |
| 999 | Khawaja Nafay | Pakistan |
13 February 2002 | Emerging | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | |
| All-rounders | ||||||||
| 49 | Wanindu Hasaranga |  Sri Lanka |
29 July 1997 | Diamond | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2023 | |
| 74 | Mohammad Wasim | Pakistan |
25 August 2001 | Diamond | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||||
| 21 | Sajjad Ali | Pakistan |
3 February 1994 | Silver | Right-handed | — | 2024 | |
| 25 | Bismillah Khan | Pakistan |
1 March 1990 | N/A | Right-handed | — | 2023 | Partial replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga |
| 54 | Sarfaraz Ahmed | Pakistan |
22 May 1987 | Gold | Right-handed | — | 2016 | |
| Bowlers | ||||||||
| 5 | Mohammad Amir | Pakistan |
13 April 1992 | Platinum | Left-handed | Left-arm fast-medium | 2024 | |
| 7 | Akeal Hosein | West Indies |
25 April 1993 | Supplementary | Left-handed | Left-arm orthodox | 2024 | |
| 11 | Mohammad Hasnain | Pakistan |
5 April 2000 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 2019 | |
| 14 | Sohail Khan | Pakistan |
6 March 1984 | Supplementary | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | 2024 | |
| 17 | Usman Tariq | Pakistan |
Supplementary | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | ||
| 40 | Abrar Ahmed | Pakistan |
16 October 1998 | Gold | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2024 | |
| 91 | Usman Qadir | Pakistan |
10 August 1993 | Silver | Left-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2024 | |
| TBA | Adil Naz | Pakistan |
2 May 2002 | Emerging | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | |
Team Management
Nadeem Omar owns the Quetta Gladiators. Here are some of the key people who manage and coach the team:
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Moin Khan | Director |
| Shane Watson | Head coach |
| Shaun Tait | Bowling coach |
| Viv Richards | Mentor |
Team Captains
The Quetta Gladiators have had a few captains since they started.
| Name | From | To | Mat | Won | Lost | Tie | NR | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarfaraz Ahmed | 2016 | 2023 | 80 | 38 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 48.10 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 2023 | 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Rilee Rossouw | 2024 | present | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Team Performance in PSL
This table shows how Quetta Gladiators have performed in each Pakistan Super League season.
| Year | Pld | Won | Loss | Tie&W | Tie&L | NR | SR (%) | Position | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70.00 | 2/5 | Runners-up |
| 2017 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55.55 | 2/5 | Runners-up |
| 2018 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45.45 | 4/6 | Play-offs |
| 2019 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 | 1/6 | Champions |
| 2020 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 | 5/6 | League Stage |
| 2021 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 | 6/6 | League Stage |
| 2022 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 | 5/6 | League Stage |
| 2023 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30.00 | 6/6 | League Stage |
| 2024 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | 4/6 | Playoffs |
| Total | 92 | 44 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 47.82 | 1 title |
- Tie+W and Tie+L means matches that were tied and then won or lost in a tie-breaker (like a "Super Over").
- The success rate does not count matches that had no result. Tied matches count as half a win.
Record Against Other Teams
This table shows how Quetta Gladiators have played against other teams in the PSL.
| Opposition | Span | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | SR (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad United | 2016–present | 19 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 47.36 |
| Karachi Kings | 2016–present | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Lahore Qalandars | 2016–present | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Multan Sultans | 2018–present | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 30.76 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 2016–present | 24 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 41.66 |
Team Statistics
Most Runs Scored
These players have scored the most runs for Quetta Gladiators.
| Player | Years | Innings | Runs | High score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarfaraz Ahmed | 2016–present | 73 | 1,525 | 81 |
| Jason Roy | 2018; 2020; 2022–present | 33 | 1,087 | 145* |
| Shane Watson | 2018–2020 | 31 | 996 | 91* |
| Ahmed Shehzad | 2016–2017; 2019–2020 | 34 | 904 | 99 |
| Rilee Rossouw | 2017–2019; 2024–present | 39 | 898 | 76* |
Most Wickets Taken
These players have taken the most wickets for Quetta Gladiators.
| Player | Years | Innings | Wickets | Best bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Nawaz | 2016–2023 | 76 | 70 | 4/13 |
| Mohammad Hasnain | 2019–present | 39 | 51 | 4/25 |
| Naseem Shah | 2020–2023 | 29 | 26 | 5/20 |
| Anwar Ali | 2016–2021 | 34 | 23 | 2/21 |
| Sohail Tanvir | 2019; 2022 | 19 | 17 | 4/21 |
