Lahore Qalandars vs Multan Sultans, PSL 2021, Match 7: Fantasy Preview

Lahore Qalandars take on Multan Sultans in Match 7 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2021 at the National Stadium, Karachi on Friday (February 26). Having won two out of two, Qalandars will be looking to continue their good run and make it three in a row, While Sultans, having suffered defeats in their opening two matches, will hope to get off the mark in the tournament. 

Qalandars and Sultans have faced each other on seven occasions in PSL, with the former having a slender edge, having won four of them. Even in the last five matches, it is Lahore who have a 3-2 lead. 

PSL HEAD-TO-HEAD 

Overall: Matches – 7 | Lahore Qalandars – 4 Wins | Multan Sultans – 3 Wins

Last 5 Matches: Lahore Qalandars – 3 Wins | Multan Sultans – 2 Wins

Suggested Teams

While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. Based on algorithms we come up with six different teams that could fetch crucial points.

GROUND DETAILS & TEAM COMBINATION

In the six matches at the National Stadium so far, the teams chasing have won all the matches – be it a moderate chase of 140 or high-scoring matches where the team is chasing 190-plus. The bowlers have struck once every 32.6 runs at an interval of 23 deliveries per dismissal at an economy rate of 8.5

Out of the 52 wickets picked up by the bowlers in Karachi, 41 of them have been picked up by pacers, which is a clear indication that you must stock your team with fast bowlers. The spinners have been economical, but have only picked up a wicket every 34.4 balls, 45.8 runs apart, while the corresponding numbers for pacers is 19.9 and 29.1 respectively.

CAPTAIN SUGGESTION

In his last five T20s, Mohammad Rizwan has scored 41, 71, 42, 41 and 104 not out. It is a no-brainer to have him as the captain of your side. He started his PSL campaign with a 53-ball 71 against Islamabad United and followed that up with 41 off 28 in his next game against Peshawar Zalmi. Rizwan with 711 runs at a strike-rate of 133.4 is among the top five run-getters in T20s among wicketkeepers since 2020. He has also scored six fifties and a century in 20 innings in this period.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Rizwan could score 15-38 runs in this match.

X-Factors

At 40, Mohammad Hafeez continues to remain an integral part of any team he plays in. In his two outings in this edition of the PSL, he has scored 106 runs in two innings without being dismissed, which includes an aggressive 73 not out off 33 in the previous game against Quetta Gladiators. It has been an interesting month or so for Hafeez, who was first dropped from the T20I series against South Africa and most recently, turned down a PCB contract. Since 2020, Hafeez has scored 1,111 runs at 52.9, along with a strike-rate of 114.5. Among those who have scored 1,000 runs in this period, only Devon Conway with an average of 68.06 has fared better. 

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Hafeez could score 12-29 runs and pick up 0-1 wicket in this match.

While his batting has taken a major hit, Carlos Brathwaite has been a consistent performer with the ball. In T20s since 2020, the West Indies all-rounder has picked up 33 wickets from 32 innings at a strike-rate of 17.5. He started the tournament off well, picking up a couple of wickets and smacking a quick-fire unbeaten 22 against Islamabad United, which was an excellent display of his all-round skills. However, it is the consistency that eludes him, but on his day, he can win his team matches on his own.

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Brathwaite could score 4-13 runs and pick up 0-1 wicket in this match.

Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers in the previous match against Quetta Gladiators, finishing with 3 for 38 from four overs. He struck early in the match and then returned to pick up two more wickets later in the innings to keep the Gladiators in check. Given that the pacers have been getting a lot of purchase from the track, it will not be a bad idea to have one of the fastest bowlers in your side. He might go for a few runs, but the wickets he keeps picking up will only add to your fantasy points.  

Our Criclytics player projector predicts Rauf could pick up 1-2 wickets in this match.