LAHORE: As Rawalpindiz are still searching for their first win of the tournament, Multan Sultans is dominating the Pakistan Super League 2026 with constant performance.
The PSL 11, however, continues with Match 31, as Rawalpindiz face Multan Sultans at the National Stadium, Karachi on Tuesday (today) evening. This fixture pits the tournament’s debutants, still searching for their first win, against the table-topping Sultans, who have been the most consistent side of the season.
Multan Sultans enter this contest in commanding form, sitting 1st on the table with four wins from five matches and a net run rate of +0.941. Their batting has been dominant, regularly posting or chasing totals above 180. Sahibzada Farhan leads the PSL 2026 run charts with 232 runs in five innings, while Josh Philippe has provided explosive starts. Steve Smith adds middle-order stability, and their spin duo of Faisal Akram and Mohammad Nawaz is ideally suited to Karachi’s slower pitches.
Their bowling attack, led by Peter Siddle and Arafat Minhas, has been disciplined and effective, ensuring Multan win matches with authority rather than scraping through. The only blemish on their record came in a rain-affected loss to Lahore Qalandars.
Rawalpindiz remain winless, languishing at the bottom of the table with a –1.414 NRR. Injuries have compounded their problems, with Naseem Shah ruled out due to a side strain and Zaman Khan sidelined with a shoulder injury. This has left veteran Mohammad Amir carrying the pace attack almost single-handedly.
Their batting has shown flashes of promise, with Yasir Khan (58 off 26) and Saad Masood (54 off 29) producing spirited knocks in recent matches. Sam Billings has also been a bright spot, scoring 173 runs at a strike rate of 145.37. However, captain Mohammad Rizwan has struggled to inspire consistent performances, and the team has repeatedly failed to defend or chase competitive totals.
Multan had already beaten Rawalpindiz convincingly earlier this season, chasing down 182 with 22 balls to spare. The Pitch conditions at Karachi is slower and the surface favors spin, giving Multan’s bowling attack a clear edge.
Rawalpindiz’s depleted pace attack leaves them vulnerable against Multan’s powerful batting lineup. However, Multan aim to secure a direct Qualifier berth, while Rawalpindiz are desperate to avoid finishing winless in their debut season.
Rawalpindiz stand below average. If Rawalpindiz bat first, they are projected to score 155–175, but Multan’s batting depth makes chasing such totals comfortable. The most likely scenario is a Multan win by 5–7 wickets with 10–20 balls to spare.
This clash highlights the gulf in class between the two sides. Multan Sultans, armed with in-form batters and a disciplined spin attack, are expected to continue their dominance. Rawalpindiz’s only path to victory lies in extraordinary individual performances from Rizwan, Billings, or Mitchell, coupled with a rare collective bowling effort.
