Karachi Kings will host Multan Sultans in the 19th match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9 at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.
The schedule is tight for the Kings as they will be playing their third match in five days after previously locking horns with Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators, losing to both teams.
Shan Masood-led unit is not having a great time as they have only won two out of five matches and currently sit on fifth position in the PSL 9 points table, just above Lahore Qalandars who are yet to record a win this season.
Already struggling to maintain consistency, the Kings will be without one of their most important players, Kieron Pollard, who left for Mumbai on Friday to participate in the wedding festivities of Anant Ambani, son of one of the richest men Mukesh Ambani.
On the other hand, the Sultans sit comfortably on top of the league with 10 points from six matches, two more than the second-placed Quetta Gladiators. Mohammad Rizwan has led his side in an exemplary way as despite missing many key players in their last encounter against Lahore, they recorded a dominant 60-run win.
A win on Sunday would take the 2021 PSL winners four points clear on the top, which would result in increasing pressure on Rilee Rossouw's Quetta Gladiators.
Pitch report
So far, two matches have been played at the National Stadium and the pitch supported bowlers greatly as the winning side scored 169 runs each in those games while batting second. The team winning the toss would prefer to bowl first as the dew factor makes it difficult to bowl as well as field in the second innings.
Probable Playing XIs
Multan Sultans: Reeza Hendricks, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Dawid Malan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Tayyab Tahir, David Willey, Chris Jordan, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani
Karachi Kings: Shan Masood (c), James Vince, Mohammad Akhlaq, Shoaib Malik, Irfan Niazi, Mohammad Nawaz, Daniel Sams, Hasan Ali, Blessing Muzarabani, Mir Hamza, Tabraiz Shamsi
Prediction:
Given their recent form and Rizwan's excellent captaincy, Multan Sultans remain the favourite to emerge winners at the National Stadium, Karachi.
