Get ready for the next game of the PSL 6 season with The Cricketer's match preview...
2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi face last year’s regular season table-toppers Multan Sultans, with both sides searching for their first win of this year’s Pakistan Super League.
The game is scheduled for 7pm PST (2pm GMT) on Tuesday, February 23, 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.
Both sides lost their opening fixtures on Sunday. Peshawar struggled with the bat against Qalandars, losing three of their top four for single figure knocks, and despite brilliant performances with the ball from Saqib Mahmood and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, couldn’t defend 140.
Sultans, meanwhile, looked on course for victory after reducing Islamabad United to 74/6 after 11 overs but faded badly in the second half of the innings to fall to defeat with six balls remaining.
Bowlers Mahmood and Mujeeb are the players to watch for Peshawar. The overseas duo conceded a miserly 47 runs from their combined eight overs, with England international Mahmood collecting two wickets. Mujeeb, ranked 16th in the T20 Player Index, should have the measure of Sultans’ top order having played with Chris Lynn and dismissed James Vince during this season’s Big Bash.
Veteran all-rounder Ravi Bopara is Peshawar’s in-form batsman, scoring a measured 50 off 44 deliveries in Sunday’s defeat.
For Sultans, new captain Mohammad Rizwan is in red hot form. The Pakistan international was the leading run-scorer during his country’s recent series against South Africa, scoring 197 runs (including one century) in three matches, and opened his PSL 6 account with a bold 71 against Islamabad.
Carlos Brathwaite, meanwhile, was the only overseas player to truly settle on Sunday. The 32-year old contributed 22 not out (14 balls) with the bat and took two wickets with an economy of 5.75.
Matchday 1️⃣
— PeshawarZalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 21, 2021
Zalmi 🆚 Qalandars @OPPOPakistan Selfie Moment @ravibopara clicks a photo after scoring his first fifty for Peshawar Zalmi #Zalmi #ZKingdom #HBLPSL6 #ZALMIxOPPO pic.twitter.com/dh91xkNMNV
Peshawar spent the build-up to Sunday’s match embroiled in the season’s first Covid storyline, dealing with late appeals to secure Wahab Riaz’s availability for the match. They will be hoping to the drama behind them and start afresh against Sultans.
Both sides are expected to be full strength heading into Tuesday’s clash.
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 Shozab Raza
Asif Yaqoob (third umpire)
Ahsan Raza (fourth umpire)
Roshan Mahanama (match referee)
Full PSL umpire appointments - click here
Despite not firing on all cylinders against Islamabad, with a top order including James Vince, Chris Lynn and Rilee Roussow, Multan Sultans should have the edge against Peshawar.
The bookies are also backing Sultans (just), valuing their chances at 8/11. Peshawar are available at 11/10.
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.
Peshawar Zalmi: Haider Ali, Kamran Akmal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, David Miller, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ravi Bopara, Sherfane Rutherford, Amad Butt, Umaid Asif, Saqib Mahmood, Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Irfan, Ibrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir Khan
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
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