PSL 2023 match preview: Islamabad United v Multan Sultans

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 PSL

What's the match?

Islamabad United take on Multan Sultans in the next match of PSL8.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 7pm local time (2pm GMT) on Tuesday, March 7.

Where is the match being played?

The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will play host to this fixture.

Who's got the form?

Alongside Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United have been one of the standout sides in PSL8. United have won four of their past five matches and are assured of a spot in the last four.

Multan Sultans are only one place behind United in third. However, after building a four-match unbeaten streak, they are now without a win in two matches and could still slip out of the top four.

When the two sides met in February, the Sultans won by 52 runs.

What's the key match-up?

Azam Khan could be key in deciding the outcome of this match.

The Islamabad United wicketkeeper has scored 277 runs at a strike rate of 169.23 in seven innings for his side while only Fakhar Zaman and teammate Colin Munro can match his haul of 17 sixes. In his past four innings, he has scored 97, 4, 72 not out and 35.

He only scored 16 runs off 14 deliveries before being bowled by Abbas Afridi in the previous encounter between these two sides and the Sultans will be desperate for a similar outcome this time round. Otherwise, things could get pretty ugly.

Azam Khan is a big wicket for Multan Sultans [Aamir Qureshi/Getty Images]

What is the team news?

Fazalhaq Farooqi has picked up six wickets in just two outings for United, including 3 for 25 on his return to the side against Quetta Gladiators. He should keep his place in the bowling attack.

Multan Sultans have no new injury or availability news.

What are the squads?

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Colin Munro, Paul Stirling, Alex Hales, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abrar Ahmed, Sohaib Maqsood, Rumman Raees, Zeeshan Zamir, Hassan Nawaz, Moeen Ali (available from March 14), Mubasir Khan, Tom Curran, Zafar Gohar, Gus Atkinson (partial replacement for Rahmanullah Gurbaz), Tymal Mills (partial replacement for Alex Hales), Rassie van der Dussen (partial replacement for Moeen Ali)

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood, Shahnawaz Dahani (injured, February 15), Tim David, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, David Miller, Josh Little (injured, February 24), Akeal Hosein, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Sameen Gul, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Sarwar, Arafat Minhas, Kieron Pollard, Ammad Butt, Wayne Parnell (partial/full replacement for Adil Rashid), Izharulhaq Naveed (partial replacement for David Miller), Mohammad Ilyas (replacement for Shahnawaz Dahani), Carlos Brathwaite (replaced Wayne Parnell)

*squads are for the overall competition and not specific to this match

What are the possible starting XIs?

Islamabad United: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan, Mubasir Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hassan Ali, Rumman Raees, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Usama Mir, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Abbas Afridi, Sameen Gul, Ihsanullah

What is the weather forecast?

Warm and sunny condition are expected in Rawalpindi, with temperatures peaking around 25 degrees Celsius.

Multan Sultans have lost their past two matches [Arif Ali/Getty Images]

What are the odds?

The two sides cannot be separated by the bookies, with a win for Islamabad United and a win for Multan Sultans both being offered at 20/21.

What's the prediction?

Islamabad United are on a roll and should have too much firepower for the Sultans. United win.

Where can I watch the game?

Cricket fans in Pakistan will be able to watch PSL8 on A Sports, PTV Sports and TEN Sports on TV. Streamed matches will be available on Daraz App, tapmadTV and Tamasha.

Viewers around the world can watch the action live on Fox Sports (Australia), Sony (South Asia outside Pakistan), Willow TV (North America), Flow Sports (Caribbean), Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Super Sport (sub-Saharan Africa) and, Etisalat and STARZPLAY (Mena).