Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi: Preview, prediction and likely lineups for PSL 9 match

As the PSL 2024 caravan progresses, Multan Sultans are set to encounter Peshawar Zalmi in the ninth scheduled fixture at Multan Cricket Stadium on February 23.

While the Zalmi are eager to open their points tally, the Sultans currently occupy the top spot on the table with a flawless 100% win record.

Under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, Multan Sultans convincingly defeated the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, in their last game.

Despite Qalandars' attempt to make a match out of their total of 166 in the first innings, Rizwan anchored the innings with 82 runs before departing with over 50 runs still needed for victory.

Multan Sultans faced a challenging situation until the experienced finisher Iftikhar Ahmed unleashed a destructive onslaught. He hammered 24 runs in Zaman Khan’s final over, securing victory for his side with six balls to spare.

As the Multan crowd applauded, Rizwan breathed a sigh of relief, maintaining his team's undefeated record for the season.

But, the Sultans will enter the match as favourites against Peshawar Zalmi, who are yet to secure their first win of the season.

Under the captaincy of Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi continue to struggle, failing to secure a victory in the ongoing PSL 2024 season despite a commendable performance from the captain.

In their recent clash against Karachi Kings, Zalmi posted a modest total of 154 runs, proving insufficient against the formidable Kieron Pollard.

Peshawar face multiple challenges, including the need for the middle order to support the skipper at the top. Mohammad Haris, in particular, has struggled to find form. Additionally, highly-rated youngster Saim Ayub is under pressure to meet expectations and must play his natural game to support the captain. Asif Ali is another player who needs to rediscover his previous form.

Pitch Report

Up to this point in the season, the pitch at Multan Cricket Stadium have proven to be fair for both batsmen and bowlers. As the season has advanced, there has been a gradual increase in the run rate, but the bowlers remain effective, thanks to their precise ball execution. The average score for the first innings is in the range of 170-180 runs, and opting to chase appears to be a favourable choice.

Probable Playing XIs

Multan Sultans: 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: 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

Prediction

Without a doubt, Multan Sultans are the favourite to win this contest against Peshawar Zalmi. While the Zalmi cannot be underestimated, given the current form, Babar Azam and co. needs to pull off something special to outclass the Sultans.

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