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PSL 2021, Qualifier Preview: Balanced Multan, presiding Islamabad contest for finale spot

After some hard-fought battles during the course, the Pakistan Super League finally has four teams that will battle it out in the playoffs. Table toppers Islamabad United and Multan Sultans will be up against each other in the qualifier on Monday in Abu Dhabi. 

The winner of this match will register a place in the final of the tournament while the team that suffers a defeat will have another chance to move forward. 

The losing side will have to play the eliminator 2 either against Peshawar Zalmi or Karachi Kings on Tuesday. 

Islamabad have been pretty dominant in this PSL 2021 after winning 8 of their 10 matches in the league. Moreover, the United side has the upper hand against Sultans after they emerged victorious in both the clashes in this edition. 

Interestingly, the wins have come for Islamabad while chasing while the bowlers have thoroughly dominated the Multan batting line up as well. 

Islamabad have experienced players like Shadab Khan, Colin Munro and Hasan Ali in the ranks. While captain Shadab can be a dangerous player on his day, Munro has shown his skills in this tournament and there have been instances where he has played a massive role to steady the ship for the side. 

On the other side, Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan has been in some brilliant form while the likes of Masood, Rossouw and Charles make them a dangerous batting line up. 

While they have strength in their bowling, Multan have some lethal bowlers in Muzarabani and Dhani. Dhani’s express pace and short deliveries that hurries on to the batsmen create a lot of problems for his opponents. 

Match Details

Match: ISU vs MS, Qualifier, Pakistan Super League 2021

Date: Monday, June 21, 2021

Time: 6:30 PM

Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Pitch Report

The pitches in this tournament in Abu Dhabi have been pretty helpful in the middle overs especially during the evening games.

 The slowish nature of the track has helped the spinners pick up wickets in the middle overs but as the day progresses, the strip has something on offer for the batsmen too. So, if you win the toss, bowl first. 

Team News 

Islamabad United: Islamabad United would be banking upon their batsmen especially the top-order to go all guns blazing. Colin Munro is in some form while Usman Khawaj showed his class after notching up a ton against Peshawar Zalmi. 

Apart from them, Islamabad have Asif Ali, Brandon King and Shadab Khan in the squad who can be as lethal on their day. Overall, Islamabad are a batting heavy side with some good bowling line up in the unit. 

Multan Sultans: Multan Sultans are probably one of the most balanced sides in the competition. They have batting order that comprises someone like Mohammad Rizwan, Masood, Charles and Rossouw while have a bowling attack which has Dhani, Imran Tahir and Muzarabani. 

Dhani has been consistent in this competition for Multan and would be a key player for the team when it takes the guard on Monday. Experienced Imran Tahir rattled Quetta Gladiators with his spin and the lad from South Africa can be someone to watch out for. 

Probable XI

Multan Sultans - Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Sohaib Maqsood, Johnson Charles, Rilee Rossouw, Hammad Azam, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Umar, Imran Tahir, Shahnawaz Dhani

Islamabad United - Usman Khawaja, Colin Munro, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Shadab Khan (c), Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Ali Khan, Hasan Ali

Fantasy XI

Mohammad Rizwan (C), Colin Munro, Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Sohaib Maqsood, Hammad Azam, Iftikhar-Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shahnawaz Dhani (VC), Imran Tahir

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