The first playoff match (qualifier) of the PSL 2024 will see Multan Sultans take on Peshawar Zalmi at the National Stadium in Karachi on Thursday (March 14).
The two sides set up the date after Multan Sultans finished the league phase at the top spot with 14 points.
Conversely, Peshawar Zalmi finished in second place with 13 points. This is their third encounter of PSL 2024 as Peshawar, led by Babar Azam, have emerged victorious twice during the league phases.
Match Details
PSL 2024 Qualifier: Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi
Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024
Time: 9:00 PM PKT
Venue: National Stadium, Karachi
Capacity: 34228
Ends: Pavilion End, University End
Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi Preview
Multan Sultans were the first team to qualify for the knockout stage after their win in Match 19 and faced only three defeats throughout the league phase, as two came in their last three games. Nevertheless, Sultans finished on a high with a comprehensive win to end the group stage and to top the points table.
On the other hand, Peshawar Zalmi comes into this qualifier with three wins on the trot against Multan Sultans, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings. Peshawar must be in high spirits and confident of making to the final as they have the momentum.
Usman Khan made only 21 against Quetta in the last game but has played three brilliant knocks of 100 off 50 balls, 106 off 59 balls, and 96 off 55 balls on the trot. Mohammad Rizwan has 366 runs in total in the group stage and only Babar Azam has hit more runs in this year’s tournament. Usama Mir (21 wickets in 10 games) is the highest wicket-taker among the top five. David Willey (13 wickets in 9 games) has been consistent and economical throughout the tournament.
Babar Azam (498 runs in 9 innings) is the highest run-scorer. The skipper scored yet another fifty in the last game against Karachi. Rovman Powell has been brilliant in the death overs and played quick cameos, as we saw against Karachi Kings when he made 30 runs from 18 balls. Luke Wood (11 wickets in 9 innings) is the highest wicket-taker for Peshawar and got the big wicket of Kieron Pollard in the last match. Naveen-ul-Haq exhibited brilliant quick bowling against Karachi. He bowled a maiden as well as dismissing James Vince and Shoaib Malik.
Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi Playing 11
There are no injury updates from the teams as of now.
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Yasir Khan, Usman Khan, Johnson Charles, Iftikhar Ahmed, Chris Jordan, Tayyab Tahir, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Haseebullah Khan, Rovman Powell, Aamer Jamal, Luke Wood, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mehran Mumtaz, Aimal Khan
Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi Squads
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed (both Platinum), Khushdil Shah, Usama Mir (both Diamond), Abbas Afridi (Gold), Ihsanullah (Brand Ambassador, Silver), Faisal Akram (Emerging), Dawid Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Reece Topley, Tayyab Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan, Yasir Khan, Chris Jordan, Aftab Ibrahim, David Willey, Johnson Charles, Muhammad Shahzad
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Rovman Powell (both Platinum), Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (all Diamond), Mohammad Haris (Brand Ambassador), Aamir Jamal (both Gold), Khurram Shahzad (Silver), Haseebullah Khan (Emerging), Asif Ali, Naveen-ul-Haq (partially unavailable), Umair Afridi, Dan Mousley, Gus Atkinson, Mohammad Zeeshan, Lungi Ngidi (Waqar Salamkheil), Mehran Mumtaz, Noor Ahmad (replaced by Gus Atkinson), Salman Irshad, Arif Yaqoob, Shamar Joseph (partial replacement for Gus Atkinson), Arshad Iqbal (partial replacement for Khurram Shahzad), Luke Wood
Sameer Pal Mykhel
source: mykhel.com