February 29: PSL - Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators, Multan

Our XI: Jason Roy, Shane Watson, Khushdil Shah, Ravi Bopara, Moeen Ali, Azam Khan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Imran Tahir, Mohammad Irfan

Captain: Shane Watson

Watson has been getting starts but has not been able to convert them into big scores. He has scored 268 runs in the PSL against left-arm pacers over the years, the fourth highest in the history of the league. With at least two left-arm pacers at the top to face this time, Watson should fancy his chances.

Vice-captain: Ben Cutting

Cutting has played two games for the Quetta this season and has won both those games for his side from difficult situations. Cutting currently has 64 runs from 29 balls and has also picked up four wickets. Against pace, he has a strike rate of 169.46 in T20s, which is the second highest in the format among all batsmen with over 1000 runs.

Hot Picks

Jason Roy: Roy has blown hot and blown cold this season so far. He has scored two fifties but just 13 runs in his other two innings. Roy also has a liking towards left-arm seamers, striking at 146.18 in all T20s against them. He has been dismissed just once in eight innings by Sohail Tanvir and has scored 47 runs off 35 balls in all T20s against him.

Imran Tahir: There should be assistance for the spinners in Multan, and Tahir should come in handy. Legspinners have a strike rate of 19.75 and an economy of 6.78 in all T20s in Multan. Tahir picked up 1 for 23 in the last game he played at the venue.

Ravi Bopara: Bopara is one of the few allrounders with a positive average difference (batting average - bowling average) among all players with a double of 500+ runs coupled with 25+ wickets in the format since 2019. Bopara has 721 runs, averaging 40.05 with the bat and has picked up 25 wickets, averaging 25.2 with the ball.

Value Picks

Naseem Shah: The young quick has impressed everyone with his pace and accuracy in the two games he has played so far. Naseem has an economy of just 5.75 and has picked up two wickets so far. For the price, he is surely a value pick.

Khushdil Shah: Khushdil scored an unbeaten 29-ball 43 to take his team through against Peshawar a few nights back. He showed that he is comfortable against pace and bounce, and will be facing plenty of that against Quetta. In all T20s, Shah has a strike rate of 118.32 against pace.

Points to note

• In all T20s in Multan, spinners go at 6.76 and pacers at 7.54. Strike rates are more similar as spinners pick a wicket every 18.74 balls and pacers do so every 17.91 balls. Stats updated as on February 27.