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PSL 2021 Preview: Multan look to continue momentum against exhausted Quetta

Somya Kapoor

Multan Sultans once again will be up against Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. Both sides haven’t really had a great tournament so far. While Multan only managed to win three out of their first seven matches that they played, Gladiators suffered defeats in six games. But with their last game win over Lahore Qalandars, the Sarfaraz Ahmed led team is hanging by the thread as far as Playoff chances are concerned. 

Gladiators have already defeated Sultans first leg in Karachi by 22 runs. Usman Khan scored a fine 50-ball 81 to take his team to a total of 176/7 in 20 overs while the bowlers then bundled out the Sultans for 154 to win the match. 

Gladiators would be looking to repeat the feat when they take on Multan while Rizwan’s troops would be eyeing to level their scores against Sarfaraz’s men. 

The Multan side would be coming into this match with a comprehensive 8-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi. Rizwan and Sohaib Maqsood scored individual half-centuries to hand their side a win eventually in the match. 

Gladiators on the other hand have an aggressive batsman in Azam Khan in the middle-order. The youngster showed his ability with the bat against Lahore Qalandars after he chipped in with a quick-fire 33 off 18. 

But the batting has become a major problem for Quetta especially in the absence of Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis. Russell suffered a blow on his helmet during the match against Islamabad United and was later taken to the hospital. 

South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis was also injured in the team’s fixture against Peshawar Zalmi while fielding. Either the top-order fails for Quetta or the middle-order isn’t able to capitalise on the starts given by the top-order batsmen which has been a major cause for the side’s dismal show in the tournament. 

Match Details

Match – Multan Sultans vs Quetta Gladiators – 25th match

Venue – Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Time – 09:30 PM IST, 01:00 PM GMT

Pitch Report

The slowish nature of the tracks in Abu Dhabi might have something for the spinners but the dew factor at night is also a major aspect in the game. While the spinners would play an important role in the middle overs especially in the first innings, the team batting second might get help because of dew. So, if you win the toss, elect to field. 

Team News

Quetta Gladiators: All-rounder Andre Russell and South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis didn’t feature in the clash against the Lahore Qalandars. The two players suffered injuries during the course of the tournament. 

Moreover, Russell is also a part of the West Indies squad for T20Is against South Africa and has been reportedly released for national duties. Earlier, three Zalmi players, David Miller, Fabien Allen and Fidel Edwards also left the PSL to feature in the bilateral tie between the two nations. 

Quetta can however enjoy the services of Jack Wildermuth in place of Zahoor Khan as they played the last game with one foreigner short. It is surprising why till now they have not played the Adelaide allrounder so far. 

Multan Sultans: Mutan Sultans will be without the services of Shimron Hetmyer for the remainder of the PSL as the batsman will be busy playing for the national side in the T20I series against South Africa at home.

Sultans would need to tweak their playing XI after Hetmyer’s departure. 

Asif Afridi and Hammad Azam have joined the squad. 

Probable XI

Quetta Gladiators

Usman Khan, Cameron Delport, Jake Weatherald, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK), Azam Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Jack Wildermuth, Hassan Khan, Usman Shinwari, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Hasnain, 

Multan Sultans

Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (C and WK), Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Khushdil Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Blessing Muzarabani, Shahnawaz Dhani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir

Fantasy XI

Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (C), Saim Ayub, Jake Weatherald, Cameron Delport, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Azam Khan (VC), Rilee Rossouw, Shahnawaz Dhani, Imran Khan, Imran Tahir

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