Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi Prediction: Batting first will be the way to go

Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi are going head to head in the 9th Match of Pakistan Super League at Multan International Cricket Stadium, Multan City, Pakistan on 23 Feb 2024. Batting first will be the way to go on this pitch at Multan. Who will win this game of cricket?

The Multan Sultans team has had an impressive start to the 2024 season of the PSL, winning all three of their games and currently leading the points table with six points. Their net run rate of +1.165 is also commendable. In their latest match against Lahore Qalandars on 21st February, Multan successfully chased down Lahore's total of 166 runs in 19 overs with five wickets to spare. Key batsmen for Multan in recent games include Mohammad Rizwan, who has scored 467 runs in his last eleven matches with an average of 46.70, and Rilee Rossouw, who has amassed 264 runs in his previous eight innings with an average of 33.00. On the bowling front, Abbas Afridi leads the pack with 21 wickets in his last eleven games at an average of 17.76, with Usama Mir not far behind with 13 wickets in eleven matches at an average of 23.84. These standout players will be crucial for Multan in their quest for more runs and wickets.

Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Dawid Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Yasir Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, David Willey, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani

Peshawar Zalmi is set to face off against Multan Sultan in the upcoming game. Peshawar Zalmi has had a rough start to their PSL campaign, losing their first few matches and currently sitting at the bottom of the points table. Babar Azam is leading the team this year. In their recent match against Karachi Kings, Peshawar batted first and scored 154 runs before being all out in 19.5 overs. Karachi managed to easily chase this target in 16.5 overs, only losing three wickets in the process. Babar Azam has been the top performer for Peshawar with 566 runs in his last ten innings at an average of 62.88. Saim Ayub has scored 329 runs in his last eleven innings with an average of 29.90. Azmatullah Omarzai has been the top bowler for Peshawar with ten wickets in his last six innings at an average of 22.90, while Aamer Jamal has taken nine wickets in his last eight innings. These players are expected to play a key role for Peshawar in the upcoming game against Multan Sultan.

Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell, Asif Ali, Aamer Jamal, Luke Wood, Mohammad Zeeshan, Waqar Salamkheil, Salman Irshad

Nine domestic T20 matches have been played at Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan, with the team batting first emerging victorious in all nine games. The pitch at Multan Cricket Stadium is known for being flat and hard, making it easier to score runs in the first innings. As the game progresses, spinners and seamers might find some assistance. Weather conditions in Multan are expected to be warm and clear during the upcoming game, with a temperature near 20 degrees Celsius, low relative humidity, and dry weather. There is no forecast of rain.

In the 2024 edition of the PSL, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi have had contrasting starts. Multan is currently at the top of the points table with three consecutive wins, while Peshawar is at the bottom after suffering two consecutive losses. With the match taking place in Multan and considering their strong performance so far, it is likely that Multan Sultans will win this game and consolidate their position at the top of the points table.