PSL 2019: Match 2, Karachi Kings vs Multan Sultans | Preview & Predicted Playing XI

The second fixture of Pakistan Super League 2019 will witness Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans go up against each other day the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, February 15.

Head-to-Head : Both teams have faced each other in two PSL fixtures, with Karachi picking the honors on first occasion, while their previous clash ended without a result.

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Karachi Kings

Karachi Kings finished second in last season’s Pakistan Super League table, but lost their momentum towards the business end of the league and lost their qualifier games to miss out on the final spot.

Batting

Babar Azam and Colin Munro are two T20 specialist batsmen in the squad, where Babar was Karachi leading run-getter in the previous season with 402 runs, Colin Munro was best T20 batsman of 2018 with 1530 runs and one may expect them to continue the same in PSL 2019.

Colin Ingram and Liam Livingsstone, meanwhile, are clean strikers of the ball and are most likely to trouble the opponents bowlers.

Bowling

Usman Shinwari was Karachi's best bowler in the previous season with 16 wickets and has been in decent form since then. The team will need him to attain few breakthroughs early on. Meanwhile, the will also bank on the likes of skipper Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Sohail Khan to use their expertise and rattle the Multan batters with their variations.

Expected Playing XI

Imad Wasim (C), Babar Azam, Colin Munro, Ravi Bopara, Liam Livingstone, Usman Shinwari, Colin Ingram, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir and Sohail Khan.

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Multan Sultans

Mutan Sultans will be eyeing a positive beginning under Shoaib Malik

Multan ended their last year campaign on fifth spot with four wins and five defeats in nine completed group games. The side was suspended after the conclusion of previous tournament due to nonpayment issues, but was sustained after the new owners took over the franchise ownership rights. The experienced Shoaib Malik will be seen performing the captaincy duties for the side.

Batting

Multan Sultans boast a lot of experience under their belt, with the likes of Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, and Andre Russell. All three are well known spearheads of the shortest format and are expected play a good knock against Karachi.

While Johnson Charles and Laurie Evans adds a mixture of young talent to the squad and were in good touch in Bangladesh Premiere League and will be expected to bring that form into the PSL.

Bowling

In terms of bowling, the veteran Mohammad Irfan will lead the pack, while Junaid Khan, who has been a big name in the league cricket, will play alongside him. The bowler had 156 T20 wickets to his name and his economy of 7.14 is quite decent.

These two will be teams go to men and will be expected to clinch few scalps in the initial overs. Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Abbas, who has done well for his national side in recent past, will be the captain's key weapons during the middle overs.

Expected Playing XI

Shoaib Malik (C), Andre Russell, Shahid Afridi, Shakeel Ansar, Mohammad Abbas, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Irfan Khan, Johnson Charles, Laurie Evans and Shan Masood.