PSL 2022 Qualifier match preview: Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars

Key match-ups, squad lists, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, odds, form guide and more ahead of the next game of the 2022 Pakistan Super League season

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What's the match?

Multan Sultans take on Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League Qualifier.

When is it taking place?

The game is set for Wednesday, February 23. The first ball will be bowled at 7:30pm local time (2:30pm GMT).

Where is the match being played?

The game will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Who's got the form?

The form side in the entire PSL this season has been the Multan Sultans. They won a record-breaking nine games out of a possible 10 in the group stages, to top the table by a margin of six points.

They come into the playoffs in top form, winning their second to last game in the group in convincing style, smashing a monster 245 for 3 - just shy of the highest PSL innings total ever, with Shan Masood (57 from 38), Mohammad Rizwan (83 from 54) and Rilee Rossouw (71 from 26) all hitting half-centuries.

Sultans' last game saw them chase down a meagre 105, set by Islamabad United, with 16 balls to spare.

The previous two meetings between Multan and Lahore have been split, with the Qalandars being the only side to defeat the Sultans this season.

Multan won the tightly-contested first meeting, chasing down 206 with just two balls remaining.

Their only loss came after Qalandars made 182 in their innings - Fakhar Zaman’s 60 from 37 the biggest contribution - with Sultans getting bowled out 52 runs short.

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Tim David (Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images)

What's the key match-up?

Sultans openers Masood and Rizwan have hit 457 and 479 runs respectively, leaving them second and third on the run-scoring leaderboard.

Rilee Rossouw and Tim David have regularly displayed their ability to clear the rope; the South African has 195 runs, including two half-centuries, and David has 251 helped by 20 sixes - the most in PSL 7.

Sultans quality spin attack has been a massive plus to the side, Imran Tahir has taken 16 wickets, the second-highest haul of the tournament, and Khushdil is one wicket worse off than Tahir, with 15.

On the other side, Fakhar has been the most in-form batter of anybody in the tournament, smashing 521 runs, passing 50 on six occasions in 10 innings.

The Qalandars' bowling attack has been at their devastating best - captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has 15 scalps to his name - and his partner in crime Haris Rauf has 13.

Youngster Zaman Khan has been one of the most impressive bowlers in the tournament, taking the place of Rauf with the new ball on occasion, claiming 14 wickets to this point.

Head-to-head record 

Matches played: 11

Multan Sultans wins: 6

Lahore Qalandars wins: 5

What's the weather forecast?

There is a slight chance of rain at the start of play, with temperatures at around 19 degrees Celsius.

What are the squads?

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw, Sohaib Maqsood, Imran Tahir, Shan Masood, Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dhani, Tim David, Odean Smith, Rumman Raees, Asif Afridi, Anwar Ali, Rovman Powell, Imran Khan Sr., Abbas Afridi, Amir Azmat, Blessing Muzarabani, Ihsanullah

Supplementary round: David Willey, Rizwan Hussain

Partial replacements: Johnson Charles, Dominic Drakes

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Akhtar, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ahmed Daniyal, Fakhar Zaman, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Dean Foxcroft, Zaman Khan, Maaz Khan, Samit Patel, Syed Faridoun

Supplementary round: Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Akif Javed

Partial replacement: Ben Dunk, Matthew Potts

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Zaman Khan (Karim Jaafar/Getty Images)

What are the possible starting XIs?

Multan SultansShan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw, Tim David, Aamer Azmat, Khushdil Shah, David Willey, Asif Afridi, Rumman Raees, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani

Lahore QalandarsFakhar Zaman, Phil Salt, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hafeez, Harry Brook, Sohail Akhtar, David Wiese, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Fawaz Ahmed, Zaman Khan

What are the odds?

Multan Sultans are the favourites at 8/11, whereas Lahore Qalandars have odds of 11/10.

What's the prediction?

Multan have the firepower required to keep their strong run going and see them advance to the final.

Where can I watch the game?

In Pakistan, games will be on A Sports and Ten Sports.

In the UK games will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Virgin 504).

In Australia, the games will be shown on Foxtel, Fox Sports and Kayo.

In India, Sony Sports Network carries the broadcast rights.

In the Caribbean, Flow Sports hold the broadcast rights, with Willow TV showing the tournament in North America.

SuperSport will provide coverage in South Africa, while Sky Sport will show the matches in New Zealand.

The PCB has partnered with ICC TV and tapmad TV to broadcast PSL7 in: Andorra, Antarctica, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bouvet Island, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos Island, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Faroe islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guyana, Heard Island, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgystan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Caledonia, North Korea, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Vietnam and Venezuela.

The commentary line-up includes Nick Knight, David Gower, Mike Haysman, Pommie Mbangwa, Danny Morrison, Bazid Khan, Waqar Younis, Urooj Mumtaz, Sana Mir, Marina Iqbal and Tariq Saeed. Erin Holland, Zainab Abbas and Sikandar Bakht will present the live coverage.

PSL GUIDES (open in external window in app)

Islamabad United

Karachi Kings

Lahore Qalandars

Multan Sultans

Peshawar Zalmi

Quetta Gladiators

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