PSL 2023 match preview: Lahore Qalandars 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?

Lahore Qalandars take on Multan Sultans in the next match in the PSL8.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 7pm local time (2pm GMT) on Saturday, March 4.

Where is the match being played?

The game is being hosted at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Who's got the form?

It's a battle of the table-toppers in Lahore, with first-placed Lahore Qalandars taking on second-placed Multan Sultans.

Since losing to Karachi Kings in their second outing of the season, the Qalandars haven't skipped a beat and are currently on a four-match unbeaten run.

The Sultans, meanwhile, have won four matches from a possible six but suffered a 66-run defeat at the hands of Karachi Kings in their most recent outing.

When these two sides met at the start of the season, Lahore Qalandars won by one run, so another close encounter could be on the cards.

What's the key match-up?

Against Quetta Gladiators on Thursday, the Qalandars were in all kinds of difficulty on 50 for 7 before Sikandar Raza blasted 71 runs from 34 balls to help his side to 148 all out. They went on to win by 17 runs.

And it's far from a one-off performance. The Zimbabwe international hasn't been dismissed in his past three innings, producing explosive knocks of 32 not out (16) and 23 not out (10) alongside his half-century. Of players to score more than 30 runs in the tournament, no one can better his strike rate of 189.53.

There are match-winners galore on both sides but Raza will be a big wicket for the Sultans given his ability to alter the course of a innings off just a handful of deliveries.

^{Sikandar Raza [Arif Ali/Getty Images]}

What is the team news?

Neither side appears to have any fresh injury or availability news.

Lahore Qalandars are unlikely to change a winning formula. Multan Sultans, meanwhile, made two changes ahead of their defeat against the Kings, with Kieron Pollard and Mohammad Ilyas replaced by Anwar Ali and Akeal Hosein. The latter, however, did not set the match alight with the ball, leaking 36 runs from three overs.

What are the squads?

Lahore Qalandars: Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, David Wiese, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Liam Dawson, Dilbar Hussain, Mirza Tahir Baig, Ahmed Danlyal, Shawaiz Irfan, Jordan Cox, Jalat Khan, Ahsan Bhatti, Sam Billings (partial replacement for Rashid Khan), Shane Dadswell (replacement for Harry Brook), Kusal Mendis (partial replacement for Jordan Cox), Shai Hope (replacement for Kusal Mendis)

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?

Lahore Qalandars: Mirza Baig, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings, Hussain Talat, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

Multan Sultans: Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Carlos Brathwaite, Akeal Hosein, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah

What is the weather forecast?

Sunny conditions are expected in Lahore, with temperatures hovering around 26 degrees Celsius.

^{Multan Sultans will be hoping to return to winning ways after losing to Karachi Kings [Rizwan Tabassum/Getty Images]}

What are the odds?

Lahore Qalandars are the favourites with odds of 10/11 while Multan Sultans are available at 1/1.

What's the prediction?

Lahore Qalandars are on a hot streak and should be too strong for the Sultans.

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).