The stage is set for the top of the table clash of the seventh Pakistan Super League (PSL) with the topper – Multan Sultans taking on the second on the list, Islamabad United in the eighth match at National Stadium Karachi.
The Sultans have been in exceptional form as the defending champions remained unbeaten in all their three outings in this year’s PSL so far. The side will be relying heavily on the in-form opening batter and the tournament’s top-scorer – Shan Masood, who has already won two Players of the match awards.
The ICC T20I Player of the Year and Sultans’ captain – Mohammad Rizwan will also be a player to watch despite his rare failure against Quetta Gladiators in the last night’s match.
Furthermore, the Sultans will also be backing themselves heavily as the defending champions became the first team to defend a total in the PSL 7.
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The United, however, were also off to a flying start as the two-time champions crushed Peshawar Zalmi in their opening match. United openers may play an important role in the side’s triumph since Paul Stirling and Alex Hales are in red hot form.
Stirling, who scored a berserk 57 off only 25 balls against Zalmi, would be the player to watch for the 2016 and 2018 champions.
HEAD TO HEAD
The two sides have come face to face nine times, with the United emerging victorious five times, while Sultans are just one short with four. In the last five outings, however, United have won three while Sultans managed to win two.
EXPECTED SQUADS
MULTAN SULTANS: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, David Willey, Imran Khan Sr, Shahnawaz Dahani, Abbas Afridi
ISLAMABAD UNITED: Shadab Khan (c), Paul Stirling, Alex Hales, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mubasir Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim, Hassan Ali, Merchant de Lange
