Pakistan Greens vs Pakistan Gold, Final — National Champions Cup

Who will win PAK-GR vs PAK-GO?

Cric First AI picks Pakistan Greens · confidence 64/100

• Pakistan Gold bat first in the Multan final after winning the toss.
• Same fixture two weeks ago: Greens won by 128 runs batting first here.
• Pitch flagged slow and dusty — turn expected to grow after 30 overs.
• Greens arrive unbeaten in the tournament; Gold scraped through via net run rate.

Multiple previews independently flag the same slow, dusty surface and batting-first trend, but pre-toss XI uncertainty caps confidence.

Result: PAK-GO won by 101 runs. Prediction missed.

Toss and conditions

Pakistan Gold won the toss and chose to bat first; Pakistan Gold bat first. Pakistan Gold chose to bat first at Multan, mirroring the pattern from earlier games at this venue.

Gold get first use of a fresher deck before the dust and turn take hold.

Backing Haider Ali and Shamyl Hussain to build early while the pitch is at its truest makes sense here.

Key factors

Projected score and key matchup

First innings: 255-275 — Par sits near 270-280 with turn expected to bite hardest after the 30-over mark.

Fakhar Zaman v Shaheen Afridi: Shaheen took 3-26 against Greens last time; Fakhar's response there shapes any chase.

Players to watch

Head-to-head and form

PAK-GR 1 – 0 PAK-GO (2026 National Champions Cup (single prior meeting)). Greens hammered Gold by 128 runs in the group stage after posting 314, bowling Gold out for 186.

Pakistan Greens: Unbeaten through the league stage, Greens arrive as the tournament's dominant unit.

Pakistan Gold: Gold scraped in on net run rate and now must defend a first-innings total for the title.

The story so far

Pakistan Greens arrive at this final unbeaten, having won all three of their league games including a 192-run demolition of Pakistan Blues. Pakistan Gold squeezed through on net run rate, needing a five-wicket win over Pakistan Whites in their last league match just to reach Tuesday's decider. The two sides have already met once in this competition, and it was one-sided: Greens posted 314 built around a Fakhar Zaman century and contributions from Omair Bin Yousuf and captain Shadab Khan, before bowling Gold out for 186. That result sits heavily over this rematch, even with the toss now reversed in Gold's favour.

The Multan strip has repeatedly turned slow and dusty as this tournament has worn on, offering spin more purchase the deeper an innings goes, which is exactly why Shaheen Afridi opted to bat rather than chase. It hands Haider Ali and Shamyl Hussain first use of a truer surface before Faheem Ashraf and Mehran Mumtaz can work the middle overs. But if Gold's innings stalls, Greens' chase leans on Fakhar Zaman's form against the new ball Shaheen Afridi will bring after their last meeting produced 3-26 for the left-armer. Whoever wins that specific duel likely decides the title.

The chase: PAK-GR need 341

Pakistan Gold's total and this ground's slow, chase-suppressing history put the pressure squarely on Pakistan Greens' top order.

Pakistan Greens need 341 on a track that has traditionally squeezed second-innings scoring at Multan, so early intent from Fakhar Zaman is non-negotiable. Lose two-three early wickets and the chase can stall as the pitch grips and turns for the spinners.

Conditions: Clear, 36°C, low cloud — surface will only get drier and slower for the chase.

• 341 to win, 300 balls, slow and dusty Multan surface.
• Historically low second-innings totals here favour the bowling side.
• Fakhar Zaman's form is the single biggest swing factor tonight.

Fakhar Zaman v Shaheen Afridi: Fakhar Zaman vs Shaheen Afridi in the first ten overs likely decides how steep this chase feels.

• Early wickets against Shaheen could derail the required rate fast.
• Middle overs turn matter as spin grips on a tiring surface.
• Asking rate climbs quickly if singles dry up against Randhawa.