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
Quetta Gladiators take on Multan Sultans in the next match of PSL8.
The match is scheduled to start at 7pm local time (2pm GMT) on Saturday, March 11.
The Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will play host to this fixture.
Quetta Gladiators kept alive their hopes of reaching the PSL playoffs with a dramatic victory over Peshawar Zalmi, chasing down 241 to win with 10 balls and eight wickets to spare.
Zalmi were on the other end of another unlikely chase when they failed to defend 243 against Multan Sultans, who breezed into the last four courtesy of Rilee Rossouw's century.
The permutations are simple for Gladiators - anything less than a victory and their title hopes are over for another year. But a handsome win, leapfrogging Zalmi on net run rate in the process, will keep alive their top-four hopes for another day.
The first meeting between the two sides back in mid-February was defined by Ihsanullah, who took five for 12 in his four overs and shipped just a single boundary.
In a competition which has increasingly been dominated by the batters, Ihsanullah produced the spell of the competition - one of only two five-fors in 2023.
His second scalp saw him pick up the wicket of Jason Roy, who ploughed an 88mph delivery to the diving David Miller at mid-off.
Since leaving the competition for England duty, the opener has returned a new man and crushed the best individual PSL score of 145 not out against Zalmi to keep the Gladiators' hopes alive.
Can Jason Roy lead an unlikely run to the PSL playoffs? (AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
Gladiators can't afford a misstep so don't be surprised if they stick with the same side that beat Zalmi. The main dilemma will be around their top order and if to give Will Smeed, who has endured a tough tournament (75 runs at 18.75), another chance. Nine of their squad have played in at least six of their nine matches.
Games in successive days and a place in the playoffs secure, Sultans may opt to rotate. Top of that list might be the fast-bowling battery of Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell and Insanullah. Mohammad Ilyas or Sameen Gul are perhaps the most likely options.
Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Mohammad Hasnain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Naveen ul Haq, Umar Akmal, Will Smeed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Naseem Shah, Odean Smith, Mohammad Hafeez, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid, Abdul Bangalzai, Aimal Khan, Martin Guptill, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qais Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Dwaine Pretorius (partial replacement for Odean Smith), Will Jacks (partial replacement for Jason Roy), Nuwan Thushara (partial replacement for Naveen ul Haq)
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
Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy, Martin Guptill, Will Smeed, Mohammad Nawaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Dwaine Pretorius, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Aimal Khan
Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ilyas, Ihsanullah
Temperatures in Rawalpindi will be around 27 degrees for the start of play, with an uninterrupted game expected.
The intimidating Kieron Pollard (AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
Multan Sultans start the match as favourites with the bookmakers at 4/6. Quetta Gladiators are the outsiders at 11/8.
Gladiators are fighting for their lives in the PSL and you can expect them to respond against a Sultans side who are already assured of a top-four place.
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).
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