The 2026 Pakistan Super League now moves into the playoffs, with Multan Sultans facing Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen in Eliminator 1 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. This is it—win or go home. The winning side will go on to meet the Qualifier winners in the second Eliminator, while the losing team exits the tournament.
Hyderabad Kingsmen booked their place in the playoffs with a dominant all-round display, crushing Rawalpindi by 108 runs in their last league game. Batting first, they piled up 244-6 and then bowled the opposition out for just 136. Their batting is in top gear, and their bowlers are delivering too.
Multan Sultans have been among the better sides in PSL 2026, winning six of their 10 matches to finish third in the table after the group stage. That said, they come into this game on the back of two straight losses, which pushed them from second place to third and cost them a chance to secure a spot in the first Qualifier.
These two sides have split their two meetings this season, with Hyderabad winning the most recent clash by four wickets while chasing down 214 in just 19.3 overs. Eight of the last 10 PSL games at Gaddafi Stadium have been won by the chasing side, clearly indicating that batting second is advantageous here. With Hyderabad entering with slightly better recent form overall, they hold a slight edge in this do-or-die contest.
Multan Sultans vs Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen Win Probability
MS vs HHK Match Details
| Match | Pakistan Super League 2026, Eliminator 1 Match |
| Date | Wednesday, 29 April 2026 |
| Time | 07:30 PM (IST) |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Live Streaming (TV) | PAK: PTV Sports, Ten Sports, A Sports, BAN: T Sports, UAE: OSN Sports and Tapmad |
| Live Streaming (Mobile) | FanCode |
MS vs HHK Team Form – Who Will Win Today’s Match?
Multan Sultans
Multan’s recent form reads L, L, W, W, L, with two straight losses entering the playoffs. Their key strength is a balanced batting unit. Sahibzada Farhan (one century, two fifties, strike rate 170) and Steven Smith (367 runs at strike rate 163) have provided solid starts. Shan Masood has contributed 298 runs at a strike rate of 160. Josh Philippe adds firepower in the middle order. Their concern is a struggling bowling attack that has failed to defend totals of 214 and 193 in the last two games. The psychological pressure is significant—they limp into the playoffs after losing their rhythm.
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen
Hyderabad’s recent form reads W, L, W, W, W, with four wins in their last five games. Their key strength is a batting unit firing on all cylinders. Marnus Labuschagne has 274 runs at an average of 30.44, anchoring the innings. Usman Khan has 256 runs including one century. Glenn Maxwell returned to form with a stunning 70* off 37 in the last game. The bowling attack has done a decent job, with Mohammad Ali (13 wickets) and Hunain Shah (12 wickets) leading the way. The psychological advantage is momentum—they crushed Rawalpindi by 108 runs in their last outing.
MS vs HHK Probable Playing XI
Multan Sultans Probable XI-
Sahibzada Farhan, Steven Smith, Josh Philippe (wk), Shan Masood, Arafat Minhas, Ashton Turner (c), Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ismail, Faisal Akram.
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen Probable XI-
Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed.
MS vs HHK Head-to-Head Record
| Total Matches | 02 |
| HHK Won | 01 |
| IU Won | 01 |
| Draw/NR/Tie | 00 |
MS vs HHK Pitch Report
The last six PSL 2026 games at Gaddafi Stadium have averaged a first-innings total of 192. The pitch offers true bounce and pace, making it a batter-friendly track for high-scoring T20s. Chasing teams have won seven of the last eight games at this venue, meaning the team batting second will have a clear advantage. To stay in the hunt, teams should aim for a first-innings score in the 200-210 range.
MS vs HHK Weather Report
Expect warm evening conditions in Lahore, with temperatures around 21–23°C at the start of play, gradually easing as the night progresses. Skies are likely to remain mostly cloudy with only a slight chance of rain. Moderate humidity and light winds could make conditions a bit sticky for players under lights. No significant interruptions are expected.
MS vs HHK Toss Prediction
In the last four PSL 2026 outings at Gaddafi Stadium, the chasing team has won every time. Given this consistent pattern and the evening dew factor, expect both skippers to opt for bowling first here.
MS vs HHK Match Prediction
This is a classic playoff clash between a team in form and a team desperate to rediscover its rhythm.
Multan Sultans’ batting unit is deep and balanced. Sahibzada Farhan and Steven Smith are both in excellent touch, with 300+ runs each. Shan Masood and Josh Philippe provide middle-order stability. If two of their top four fire with 50+ scores, they can compete. However, their bowling unit is under significant pressure, having failed to defend totals above 190 in the last two matches. They will need at least a score of 215-220 if they bat first.
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen’s batting is in top gear. Glenn Maxwell returned to form with a stunning 70* off 37. Usman Khan and Marnus Labuschagne have been consistent. Their bowling attack, led by Mohammad Ali (13 wickets) and Hunain Shah (12 wickets), is delivering. They have already beaten Multan once this season, chasing down 214 with ease.
The key battle will be Hyderabad’s bowling attack against Multan’s top order. If Mohammad Ali and Hunain Shah can dismiss Farhan and Smith early, Multan’s middle order could be exposed. If Maxwell and Kusal Perera get going in the chase, Hyderabad will be tough to stop.
Hyderabad’s current form is stronger, with four wins in their last five games. Their batting is firing, and their bowlers are delivering. Multan’s bowling has been struggling, and they come into the playoffs on a losing streak.
We predict that Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen will win Eliminator 1.
MS vs HHK Dream11 Team
- Wicketkeeper- Josh Philippe, Usman Khan
- Batters- Sahibzada Farhan, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell
- All-rounders– Marnus Labuschagne, Shan Masood, Arafat Minhas
- Bowlers- Mohammad Ali, Hunain Shah, Peter Siddle
Captain (C) Pick- Glenn Maxwell.
Vice-Captain (VC) Pick- Sahibzada Farhan.
