PSL 2022: Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings Match Prediction – Who will win today’s match?

The defending champions Multan Sultans would be battling it out against a demoralized Karachi Kings in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. Multan being the first team to have qualified for the playoffs would be hoping to get back to winning ways after a 52-run loss against the Lahore Qalandars last week which also happened to be their first defeat of PSL 2022.  The title-holders occupy the top spot in the points table with six wins from seven matches and 12 points to their tally.

Meanwhile, nothing has gone right for the Kings in this season. In fact, the Babar Azam-led side are yet to open their account in PSL 2022. With already out of the playoffs race, Karachi find themselves languishing at the bottom of the points table having lost all their seven games, and currently have a negative NRR of -1.232. It appeared as if the Karachi Kings would succeed in registering their first points during their last game against Islamabad United on Monday. However, pacer Waqas Maqsood bowled a tight final over and helped the United come on top by one run while the Karachi Kings had to wait another day.

Match Details:

Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings, Match 23

Venue: Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore

Date & Time: February 16 at 8:00 PM IST and 7:30 PM Local Time

Live Streaming: Sony Sports Network

Pitch Report:

Batters have really made merry at the Lahore wicket and a lot of high-scoring matches have been witnessed in the second leg of PSL 2022 that is being played over there. The pacers have also made the ball do the talking really well on that surface but, the spinners have really struggled to rediscover their rhythm. Nonetheless, the captain that calls it right at the toss would have absolutely no hesitation in batting first and putting up runs on the board.

Average score: 180 (Last 5 PSL games)

Record of Chasing teams:  Won-2, Lost -3

Probable Playing XIs for Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings:

Multan Sultans:

Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Rilee Rossouw, Sohaib Maqsood, Imran Tahir, Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dhani, Tim David, Odean Smith, Rumman Raees, Abbas Afridi.

Karachi Kings:

Babar Azam (c), Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Amir, Joe Clarke (wk), Sharjeel Khan, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Ilyas, Chris Jordan, Qasim Akram, Usman Shinwari.

Multan Sultans vs Karachi Kings Head to Head:

Overall-10 games, Multan Sultans-3, Karachi Kings-5

Probable best batter of the match: Qasim Akram

Arguably the next big thing in Pakistan cricket Qasim Akram, who had finished the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 with 203 runs and 10 wickets made his arrival to PSL in style with an excellent half-century during the Karachi Kings’ last match against Islamabad United and bought his team to the cusp of victory.

After being reduced to 80/5 during their stiff run chase of 192, Akram and all-rounder Imad Wasim added 108 runs for the sixth-wicket stand. Unfortunately, a thrilling last over from Waqas Maqsood saw him being stranded at the other end as he remained unbeaten on 51 off 26 deliveries.

Probable best bowler of the match:

Imran Tahir: The veteran South African spinner has so far proved that age is just a number and is giving the other bowlers a run for their money in the ongoing competition. The leggie had registered a match-winning three-wicket haul against the same opposition in the season opener last month and would be hoping to bamboozle the Karachi batters yet again.

Imran Tahir has so far registered 12 scalps from seven outings at an economy rate of 6.68. Meanwhile, the Pakistan-born leg-spinner would be looking to deceive the batters on a tough Lahore surface where spinners usually don’t get much assistance in the middle overs.

Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.