Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans Prediction & Match Preview – PSL 2026, 40th Match
Match summary
Our PSL 2026 preview of Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans at the National Stadium, Karachi: form, key players, likely XIs, pitch and our pick.
Match details
| Match | Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans, 40th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Pakistan Super League 2026 |
| Date | 26 Apr 2026 |
| Start time | 2:00 pm GMT / 7:00 pm local |
| Venue | National Stadium, Karachi |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Multan Sultans |
| Toss pick | Islamabad United |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Islamabad United and Multan Sultans meet in the 40th match of the 2026 Pakistan Super League with both sides already in the playoffs. Islamabad are third with five wins from eight matches, 11 points and a net run rate of 1.766, after an eight-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in which they bowled them out for 80. As it is their last league game, victory would put them in the Qualifier.
Sameer Minhas has 298 runs in eight innings at a strike rate above 154, and Devon Conway has 247. Shadab Khan has 13 wickets at an economy rate of 6.24, Richard Gleeson and Chris Green share 15 wickets, and Imad Wasim has nine.
Multan are second, having won six of nine, despite a recent loss to Hyderabad in which they made 213/7. Sahibzada Farhan, with a century and two fifties at a strike rate of 170, and Steven Smith, fresh from 106 off 50, have each passed 300 runs, while Shan Masood has 254 and Josh Philippe 251. Peter Siddle leads the attack with 12 wickets, and Multan beat Islamabad earlier in the season. Our preview picks Multan Sultans.
The National Stadium surface is generally good for batting, with a flat top, true bounce and a fast outfield, so high T20 totals are common. Seamers may find some movement early, but the pitch eases as the innings goes on, and spinners get modest help in the middle overs. Dew in evening games can make it harder to grip the ball in the second innings, favouring chasers.
The evening should be warm but more pleasant than the daytime heat, at around 29–32°C at the start and falling later. Skies should be clear or mostly clear with no significant chance of rain, and a light sea breeze is expected.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 175–195 | – |
| Second innings | 165–185 | – |
Multan Sultans
Multan are second in the table with a deep batting order and already beat Islamabad earlier in the season.
Toss pick: Islamabad United
FAQ
When is Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans?
The 40th match of PSL 2026 is on Sunday 26 April 2026 at the National Stadium in Karachi, with a 7:00 pm local start.
What is at stake for Islamabad United?
It is their final league game, and a win would guarantee them a place in the Qualifier.
Who does our preview pick?
Our preview picks Multan Sultans to win, with Islamabad United expected to win the toss.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Islamabad United
- Devon Conwaywk
- Sameer Minhas
- Mohammad Faiq
- Mark Chapman
- Shadab Khanc
- Haider Ali
- Faheem Ashraf
- Chris Green
- Imad Wasim
- Richard Gleeson
- Mohammad Hasnain
Multan Sultans
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Steven Smith
- Ashton Turnerc
- Josh Philippewk
- Shan Masood
- Mohammad Nawaz
- Arafat Minhas
- Mohammad Imran Randhawa
- Peter Siddle
- Mohammad Wasim Jr
- Muhammad Ismail
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Islamabad United and Multan Sultans that we covered.