Multan Sultans Ready For HBL PSL-9

MULTAN: The rejuvenated Multan Sultans are all set to enter the ninth iteration of the HBL Pakistan Super Cricket League and will begin their campaign at Sultans Fort, the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium on February 18, a day after the tournament kicks off.

They will play the first five of their 10 league games at home before going on an away tour of Pakistan from February 26. Multan has been a daunting destination for visiting teams as the Sultans have an incredible record of seven wins from eight matches here.

The 2021 edition champions Multan Sultans have featured in the last three finals and their win percentage of 55.22 is the best by any side since the inception of the HBL PSL in 2016.

Multan Sultans struck exciting trade deals with Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings to bag Iftikhar Ahmed, one of the most sought-after T20 all-rounders, and Faisal Akram, the 20-year-old rampant left-arm wrist spinner.

Multan also captured the first platinum and diamond picks, two of the three golds and two of the first four silvers. Multan Sultans strengthened their home core by picking Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, Yasir Khan and Aftab Ibrahim.

The addition of Reezy Hendricks, Dawid Malan and Usman Khan further bolstered their batting and David Willey, Reece Topley and Chris Jordan bolstered their fast bowling stock.

Multan Sultans are also the first HBL PSL franchise to introduce women in the coaching staff by introducing Catherine Dalton (fast bowling) and Alexandra Hartley. “Today’s cricketers are playing under enormous pressure and there are huge expectations attached to them.

T20 teams around the world expect the best from them and so do we. It is important that we provide them with the best resources in the form of highly educated and skilled individuals in the dressing room who can help them make decisions and guide them according to current requirements. All the coaches on my team are widely respected and proven. I often get asked about adding women to the panel. We at Multan Sultans don’t see gender or race, we look for the best talent available and that was exactly the case when we hired Catherine and Alex, he added.

He said that Catherine worked at Multan Sultans Academy in Lodhran with fast bowlers like Arshad Iqbal, Sameen Gul, Muhammad Ilyas etc. She worked a lot on their technical aspects which helped them immensely and now they are playing for Pakistan Shaheens or first class teams.

Multan Sultans will arrive in the City of Saints a week ahead of their opening match of the season against Karachi Kings on February 18. They will then take on Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars on the 20th and 21st respectively before taking on Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators on the 23rd and 25th.