Get ready for the next game of the PSL 6 season with The Cricketer's match preview...
A re-match of last season’s qualifier between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans. Kings won that contest in a Super Over and went on to win the title.
The game is scheduled for 2pm PST (9am GMT) on Saturday, February 27, 2021.
This game will take place in the national stadium in Karachi, where all PSL 6 matches are being staged until March 7. At that point, the tournament moves to Lahore.
This is due to Covid-19 protocols being implemented by tournament organisers.
Kings have had a mixed start to the tournament, comfortably beating Quetta Gladiators in the season opener before failing to defend 196 against Islamabad United on Wednesday. With the bat, they’re are firing on all cylinders but their form with the ball is concerning. Only two bowlers (Mohammad Nabi and Imad Wasim) recorded single figure economies against Islamabad while Aamer Yamin conceded a costly 29 runs from his single over.
Sultans, meanwhile, have started the tournament with defeats against Islamabad and Peshawar. Playing Lahore 24 hours before their clash with Kings, they’ll be hoping to come into Saturday’s match with winning momentum.
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Mohammad Nabi is making the most of his time in the PSL before reporting for international duty in late March. The Afghan all-rounder scored 30 runs from 14 deliveries to see Kings over the line against Gladiators before taking 1-26 in Wednesday’s defeat – the most economical performance by a long shot.
Karachi’s other player of the moment is Babar Azam who became the leading run-scorer in PSL history on Wednesday. His achievement was slightly overshadowed by Sharjeel Khan’s century but the Pakistan international, ranked 24th on the T20 Player Index, already has 86 runs in PSL 6 and will be hungry for more to keep Kamran Akmal from stealing his crown.
Given Kings’ struggles with the ball, the trio to watch for Multan are Mohammad Rizwan, James Vince and Carlos Brathwaite. Rizwan and Vince have a combined 212 runs from their first two matches, including 19 fours and five sixes. Meanwhile, Brathwaite – if he gets his chance – could do some major damage to the confidence of Karachi’s bowlers with his legendary boom boom batting.
Both teams are expected to be full strength for Saturday’s clash.
Mohammad Rizwan (L) and James Vince (R) are in hot form for Sultans
Yes, PSL 6 matches are operating at 20 per cent capacity in 2021, with stringent Covid-19 precautionary measures in place. Fans will have to wear a mask in the stands, and groups may only consist of members of one household, for example.
Richard Illingworth and Rashid Riaz
Ahsan Raza (third umpire)
Faisal Afridi (fourth umpire)
Roshan Mahanama (match referee)
Full PSL umpire appointments - click here
With both sides failing to defend 190-plus totals in PSL 6, this game is likely to be a high scoring affair and could go either way. However, Kings will be keen to bounce back from Wednesday’s defeat and their powerful overseas foursome – Dan Christian, Nabi, Joe Clarke and Colin Ingram – should give them the edge.
The bookies also expect this to be a tight game, offering odds of 4/5 in favour of Karachi and 10/11 for Sultans.
PSL TEAM GUIDES
Sky Sports will broadcast the tournament in the UK.
In Pakistan, the competition will be available on PTV Sports.
Sony Pictures Network have the rights in India.
Sony Pictures Network will also provide coverage throughout South Asia, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Sky Sport will televise the tournament in New Zealand while SuperSport hold the rights in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region.
Willow TV have all the action for viewers in the United States and Canada. In the Caribbean, PSL 6 will be available on Flow Sports.
Streaming service Tapmad TV have the rights in Australia, MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and the rest of the world with coverage available online and via the app.
Karachi Kings: Amir Yamin, Arshad Iqbal, Babar Azam, Colin Ingram, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Sharjeel Khan, Waqas Maqsood, Mohammad Nabi, Dan Christian, Chadwick Walton, Joe Clarke, Noor Ahmad, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Ilyas, Zeeshan Malik, Qasim Akram
Multan Sultans: Shahid Afridi, Imran Tahir, James Vince, Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood, Sohail Tanvir, Usman Qadir, Chris Lynn, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Carlos Brathwaite, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohaib Ullah, Adam Lyth, Shahnawaz Dhani, Muhammad Umar, Imran Khan Sr
PSL 2021 squads
PSL 2021 fixtures
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