The third match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 will see Multan Sultans take on Karachi Kings at the Multan Cricket Stadium in Multan on Friday. Both teams will be playing their first game of the season and will be eager to start with a win.
Multan Sultans: A Balanced and Experienced Side
Multan Sultans, who finished third in the last edition of the PSL, have a balanced and experienced side, led by wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan, who was the highest run-scorer in the PSL 2023 with 500 runs, will be the key player for the Sultans, along with England’s Dawid Malan, who joined the team as a replacement for Chris Lynn.
The Sultans also have a strong middle-order, with the likes of Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, and Yasir Khan, who can provide stability and firepower. The all-rounders’ department is also well-stocked, with David Willey, Chris Jordan, and Mohammad Nawaz, who can contribute with both bat and ball.
The bowling unit of the Sultans is led by Shahnawaz Dahani, who was the leading wicket-taker in the PSL 2023 with 20 wickets. He will be supported by Abbas Afridi, Usama Mir, and Hasan Ali, who can generate pace and swing. The Sultans also have a quality spinner in Usman Khan, who can trouble the batsmen with his variations.
Karachi Kings: A Star-Studded and Aggressive Team
Karachi Kings, who were the runners-up in the PSL 2023, have a star-studded and aggressive team, led by all-rounder Imad Wasim. Imad, who was the second-highest wicket-taker in the PSL 2023 with 18 wickets, will be the main spinner for the Kings, along with Qasim Akram and Umer Khan.
The Kings have a formidable batting line-up, with the likes of Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Martin Guptill, and Colin Ingram, who can score runs at a brisk rate. Babar, who is the world’s number one T20I batsman, will be the anchor of the innings, while Sharjeel, Guptill, and Ingram will provide the impetus.
The Kings also have some explosive all-rounders, such as Mohammad Hafeez, Dan Christian, and Thisara Perera, who can change the course of the game with their hitting and bowling. The pace attack of the Kings is spearheaded by Mohammad Amir, who is one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. He will be assisted by Waqas Maqsood, Arshad Iqbal, and Mohammad Ilyas, who can bowl with accuracy and variation.
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
The pitch at the Multan Cricket Stadium is expected to be a good one for batting, with some assistance for the spinners. The average first innings score at this venue in the last five T20 matches is 173 runs. The team winning the toss should opt to bat first, as the pitch might get slower in the second innings.
The weather conditions in Multan are likely to be sunny and warm, with a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 14 degrees. There is no chance of rain and the humidity level will be around 40%.
Dream11 Team Prediction
Based on the pitch report, weather conditions, and player performances, here is the Dream11 team prediction for the match between Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings:
Wicket-keepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam
Batters: Dawid Malan, Sharjeel Khan, Martin Guptill
All-rounders: David Willey, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Hafeez
Bowlers: Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan
Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
Vice-captain: Imad Wasim
