Peshawar Zalmi vs Multan Sultans Prediction – PSL 2026 Preview | Statz Cricket
11th April 2026
The two best sides in PSL 2026 meet at National Stadium on Monday in what is already shaping up as the defining fixture of the group stage. Peshawar Zalmi are the only unbeaten side in the competition. Multan Sultans are one loss behind them. Something has to give.
Venue – National Stadium, Karachi
National Stadium is a genuine contest between bat and ball. The average first-innings score is 178.3 – one of the higher readings in PSL venues – with a match total average of 335.3 runs. Seam takes 54.6% of wickets and spin 41.1%, making it a ground that rewards variety in your bowling attack. Teams batting first have won 51.9% of matches here – a slight edge to the side that wins the toss and elects to bat.
Multan Sultans have a strong record at this venue – 8 wins from 11 matches (72.7%). Peshawar Zalmi are more evenly balanced: 8 wins from 15 (53.3%). Conditions suit Multan’s batting-heavy approach.
Form and H2H
Peshawar Zalmi have been exceptional this PSL. Five games, four wins, one no result – they top the standings with 9 points and a NRR of +3.103. They won today’s earlier game against Lahore Qalandars, making this their second match in two days. That turnaround could be a factor, especially with Multan rested.
Multan Sultans sit second with 8 points (4W, 1L from 5 games, NRR +0.941). Their one defeat came earlier in the tournament but they have looked strong since. In the overall H2H, Multan lead 5-4 from 9 matches – a narrow edge going into this fixture. The top H2H run scorer is Mohammad Rizwan with 268 runs, though he now plays for Pindiz rather than Multan.
Statz Projections
Statz projects this as a closely contested fixture. The standout Dream11 pick is Mohammad Nawaz of Multan Sultans – projected at 97.5 D11 points with a PP of 59.8, the highest of any player in this match. He offers genuine all-round value. Steven Smith (82.4 D11, 46.4 PP) is next for Multan, while Kusal Mendis (76.4 D11, 42.5 PP) leads Peshawar’s projected contributors.
See the full projections at statz.ai/cricket/fixtures/69495/peshawar-zalmi-vs-multan-sultans/projections.
Predicted Lineups
Peshawar Zalmi (likely XI): Babar Azam (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Mohammad Haris, James Vince, Mirza Tahir Baig, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmad, Michael Bracewell, Aamer Jamal, Khalid Usman, Sufiyan Muqeem
Multan Sultans (likely XI): Josh Philippe (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Steven Smith, Shan Masood, Ashton Turner (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Jahanzaib Sultan, Lachlan Shaw, Mohammad Nawaz, Peter Siddle, Delano Potgieter
Check the fixture page for any confirmed changes after the toss.
Key Players
Kusal Mendis (PZ) – The PSL 2026 Orange Cap leader with 241 runs – more than any other player in the competition. He has been the engine of Zalmi’s unbeaten run at the top of the order and is projected at 76.4 D11 points. A match-winner at this level.
Steven Smith (MS) – Multan’s batting anchor with 144 runs this PSL (9th overall) and a Statz D11 projection of 82.4 – second only to Nawaz for Multan. Smith’s technique against both seam and spin makes him dangerous at National Stadium where the ball does a bit for everyone.
Mohammad Nawaz (MS) – The highest projected player in this fixture at 97.5 D11 points. Nawaz is a genuine all-rounder – contributes with both bat and ball and is already among the PSL’s top wicket-takers with 5 scalps. At a venue where spin takes over 40% of wickets, his left-arm spin is a real weapon.
Sufiyan Muqeem (PZ) – Joint PSL wickets leader (alongside Shaheen Afridi) with 10 wickets from Peshawar’s campaign. He has been relentless in the tournament and at a ground where spinners are effective, Muqeem poses a serious threat to Multan’s middle order.
Verdict
This is the match of the round. Both teams are in excellent form, but Multan’s superior record at National Stadium (8 wins from 11) gives them a home-venue edge even though they are nominally the away side. Peshawar played just hours earlier and that fatigue – however slight – could be decisive in a tight contest. Back Multan Sultans at home.
Prediction: Multan Sultans to win
Bet Builder Angles
Use Statz Cricket Bet Builder to build these angles:
- Kusal Mendis top PZ bat – Orange Cap leader (241 runs), highest projected Zalmi scorer. He goes big in big games and this qualifies.
- Mohammad Nawaz to score 15+ runs and take 1+ wickets – Projected at 97.5 D11 points for a reason. All-round contribution from Nawaz is a strong probability angle at a venue where his left-arm spin clicks.
- Sufiyan Muqeem 2+ wickets – Joint PSL wickets leader (10 wkts). At a ground where spin takes 41% of wickets, his tournament form makes this compelling.
- Babar Azam 25+ runs – 212 runs in PSL 2026 (3rd overall). He tends to step up in top-of-table fixtures and is projected at 63.6 D11 points for this match.