Quetta Gladiators (QG) and Multan Sultans (MS) have played five and six games, respectively, this season, but none against each other. Both sides seem to have switched their fortunes. Until last season, Quetta had the job of sticking to the bottom, watching as a spectator while the remaining five teams battled for the top four spots. They did make it to the play-offs last year, their first since lifting the trophy in 2019, but only just. This year, however, they look in sublime touch with a new captain and many new entrées.
Multan, however, have been the punching bag this season. In the six games they have played so far, the runner-up from last season has won only one game and is teetering on the brink of a premature exclusion from the tournament. If it happens, this will be their first group-stage exit since 2019. It’s interesting that the peaks of Multan and Quetta have never overlapped, and this season continues to keep that trend intact.
Team Overview:
Despite Multan hitting new lows every game, their skipper, Mohammad Rizwan, is the leading run-scorer of the league this year. Besides Rizwan, both of their remaining top three have averaged more than 45. But the real problem for MS lies in how their middle-order batters have performed. Barring the top three, only Kamran Ghulam has brought some relief for the side with his bat, while the rest of the lineup has largely remained silent with their blades this season. This pattern has worsened when batting second. Multan have lost three games while chasing this season, which is the most by any team. And the problem isn’t limited to their batters. Among the top ten wicket-takers this year, only Ubaid Shah features from Multan. This is in stark contrast to last year, when, halfway through the tournament, as many as four Multan bowlers featured in the top ten list.
Quetta Gladiators have used 18 of their 21 squad players just halfway into the tournament. They have struggled to find the perfect combination in the middle order. There has been some shuffling of batters as well, with Hasan Nawaz playing at No. 3, No. 6, and No. 7 in recent games. But the combination seems to have settled now, as evidenced by the two wins they have secured on the trot. Abrar Ahmed is their best bowler this edition, having accumulated nine wickets at an average of just 17.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Quetta have played 13 games against the late-starters Multan Sultans but have only won four of those, leaving MS the better side in the remaining nine.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Pakistan is experiencing a sudden increase in temperatures, especially in the cities in the central and southern parts of the country. Lahore, too, is no exception. The weather will be slightly better by the time the game starts. The conditions in Lahore offer something to both batters and bowlers, though at times the former seem to have more of an edge.
Prediction:
Quetta are riding high on winning momentum, and they will look to keep the streak going before they face Lahore and Islamabad United (IU) in their next two games.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: A Sports, PTV Sports, Tapmad, Tamasha, Walee Technologies, Myco App, Begin
India: FanCode App, Sony Sports Network
Africa: Super Sports
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan: Sony Sports Network
North America: Willow TV
MENA: MYCO
Rest of the World: Sports Central
