Shadab set to miss United's home game against Gladiators due to groin injury

Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan is expected to miss at least one more game as he recovers from a groin injury. The full impact of the injury is yet to be determined, and United have consulted a doctor from the UK for a complete diagnosis. It is their game at home - against Quetta Gladiators in Rawalpindi - which looks set to come too soon for the United captain.

ESPNcricinfo understands United are confident of Shadab's availability during the later stages of the season, with the side on the brink of making the playoffs after winning the first five games of the season.

Shadab picked up the injury during United's game against Peshawar Zalmi on Friday while batting. An official statement from United said that Shadab had experienced discomfort in his groin during his innings. He subsequently did not bowl or take the field in the second innings, with United ultimately falling short.

Shadab then missed his side's game on Saturday against Quetta Gladiators, with Salman Agha deputising in his absence. United lost a thrilling contest in Lahore in the final over to slump to their third defeat of the season, consequently relinquishing the top spot to the Gladiators.

Shadab's form has been a vital component of United's success in the first half of their campaign, playing a number of handy cameos in the middle order. However, it is the return of his bowling form that has been the brightest spark. His nine wickets place him in the top ten wicket-takers in the PSL this year, but it is his economy - a consistent weakness of late - that stands out.

Shadab has a superior economy rate (6.70) to all spinners in the league bar Mohammad Nabi and Sikandar Raza, each of whom has fewer wickets to their names. That it has been achieved as a legspinner makes the numbers even more impressive; no other legspinner has managed an economy rate lower than 7.64.