Peshawar Zalmi Predicted Playing XI vs Multan Sultans-PSL 2026, Match 22

Peshawar Zalmi's predicted XI vs Multan Sultans [Source: AFP]

The PSL 2026 league leaders, Peshawar Zalmi, are set to meet the second-placed Multan Sultans on Monday night in a top-of-the-table clash, as they look to solidify their chances of playoff qualifications. The match will be played at the National Stadium, Karachi, on April 13 at 7:30 PM (IST).

So far, the Babar Azam-led outfit have remained unbeaten at the halfway mark of the league phase, with four wins and an abandoned game and have a net run-rate of 3.103.

Ashton Turner’s Multan have also put the disappointment of winning 1/10 matches last season behind them and have started PSL 2026 with four wins and a loss in 5 matches, for an NRR of 0.941.

Captain Babar Azam, alongside Sri Lankan star batter Kusal Mendis, have been leading the charge for the Zalmis and are among the top-3 run-getters this season with 212 and 241 runs, respectively, in 4 innings each. Leg-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem has picked 10 wickets as the leading wicket-taker of PSL 2026 at an excellent economy rate of 6.18 runs per over.

As the teams fight it out for the top spot in the league, we take a look at the Peshawar Zalmi’s predicted XI for the match.

Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI vs Multan Sultans- PSL 2026, Match 22

Top Order: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk)

Opener and captain Babar Azam has scored 212 runs in PSL 2026, at 135.89, which is higher than his usual strike rate and has been a linchpin of their lineup up top. He will continue to open alongside the explosive Mohmmad Haris, who is looking for a big score after a couple of cameos, accumulating 76 runs at 165.21 in 4 innings.

The PSL 2026 leading run-scorer, Kusal Mendis, will retain his spot in the team after a swashbuckling hundred and fifty to his name already. He has scored 241 runs at 172.14 and averages 60.25 so far.

Also Read: Fastest Centuries In PSL History After Kusal Mendis’ 48-Ball Century

Middle Order and All-rounders: Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Iftikhar Ahmed, Farhan Yousaf, Aamer Jamal

The Peshawar Zalmi have a middle-order with horses for courses, where the batters have been used as floaters according to situations. Michael Bracewell is their third-highest scorer with 87 high-impact runs at 177.55 and has also picked 3 wickets in 3 innings, conceding at just 7 rpo.

He will be followed by Abdul Samad, who has 76 runs at 271.42 in the limited balls that he has faced so far in PSL 2026. Iftikhar Ahmed has only batted twice for 22 runs at 157 but has been on a match-winning bowling form, picking 7 wickets in 3 innings at an economy of 6.42 and is the third-highest wicket-taker of the competition.

The 19-year-old Farhan Yousaf, who has 172 PSL runs at 181.05, will share the lower-order with all-rounder Aamer Jamal, who is batting at 7 or 8 this season and also has three wickets to his name.

Bowlers: Sufiyan Muqeem, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana

The x-factor bowler of the Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan Muqeem, with 10 wickets in 4 matches, is the joint-leading wicket-taker of PSL 2026. He will control the middle-overs with his leg-spin bowling.

The Bangladesh pair of Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana will be the two frontline pacers of the bowling attack. Rana has picked 5 wickets in 3 matches, conceding at a miserly rate of 5.20 runs per over, and the new ball bowler Shoriful Islam has two wickets in 4 innings at an economy rate of 8.36.

Overall, they are likely to go unchanged and stick to the winning formula, considering they are unbeaten in PSL 2026 so far.

Peshawar Zalmi Playing XI vs Multan Sultans- Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Kusal Mendis (wk), Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Iftikhar Ahmed, Farhan Yousaf, Aamer Jamal, Sufiyan Muqeem, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.

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