KARACHI: The rejuvenated Multan Sultans are all set to claim their ninth HBL Pakistan Super League title. They begin their campaign at the Sultans stronghold, the picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium.
Multan has been a daunting destination for the visitors as Sultans enjoy an incredible record of seven wins from eight matches here. The 2021 edition champions Multan Sultans have appeared in the last three finals and their winning percentage of 55.22 is the best by any side since the inception of the HBL PSL in 2016.
“I definitely have huge shoes to fill because my uncle [the late Alamgir Tareen] left a huge legacy,” says Ali Tareen, owner and managing director of Multan Sultans. “We are a data and analytics team and have put together a team that takes into account the four venues and player availability in future editions.
“It’s no secret that T20 teams with strong domestic cores have incredible success rates around the world and that’s something we’ve developed through tactical trade deals and strategic player selection in the HBL PSL 9 Player Draft in December.”
Multan Sultans boosted 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.
“Left-arm spinners were influential in the initial editions of the HBL PSL, but over the last few years, the data suggests that their effectiveness has declined. We had a great season last year but we couldn’t close it out as we would have liked as we were just a touch behind in the powerplay and death bowling.
“So now we have put together a team from which you can build an XI that will consist of scorching fast bowlers who can bowl at any stage of the game and different styles of spinners to complement them. David Willey, Reece Topley, Chris Jordan along with Abbas Afridi and Dahani form a daunting fast bowling line-up. And now add our wily spinners – Usama Mir, Faisal Akram, Khushdil Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed – into the mix and you have the perfect bowling line-up.
“Our batting starts with established T20 stars in Rizwan, Reez and Malan and the middle order boasts the batting firepower of Iftikhar, Khushdil, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan, Willey and the list goes on.
“So I’m very happy with what we managed to put together.
“All credit goes to our chief strategist Nathan Leamon, head coach Abdul Rehman, development coach Mohammad Wasim and our analyst Waleed Ahmed.”
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.
Islamabad United set to face red-hot Multan Sultans in final of PSL 9. Multan Sultans reached their fourth straight Pakistan Super League final by beating Peshawar Zalmi by seven wickets in a lopsided qualifier.
Sultans won the event in 2021 before losing to Lahore Qalandars in the finals of the last two editions.
Islamabad United qualified for the HBL PSL final for the first time since 2018 thanks to a record partnership between Imad Wasim and Haider Ali as they beat Peshawar Zalmi by five wickets at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi in Eliminator Two on Saturday night.
Zalmi were unable to defend their total of 185-5 as the United batters overcame an initial hiccup of 50-4 to book their place in the HBL PSL 9 final as they completed the target with an over to spare.
Islamabad United’s 186-run chase met with adversity when Saim, fresh off his batting, struck twice with the new ball; Alex Hales chipped one straight to Mehran Mumtaz at cover while Salman Ali Agha was fooled by a full carrom ball that rattled his stumps.