Multan Sultans PSL 2023 Preview
The Multan Sultans begin their campaign – and the 2023 Pakistan Super League – against the defending champions Lahore Qalandars on 13 February.
It’s a rematch of last year’s final and the Sultans will be looking to avenge that defeat – and with a victory, set in motion a repeat of their title winning campaign in 2021.
The Sultans’ first five games of PSL 8 are, remarkably, five home games.
The Multan Cricket Stadium is one of the four venues in the 2023 PSL. It is set to host these five fixtures – the Sultans against each of the other PSL teams.
The main task for last season’s runners-up is to adequately replace the output of David Willey and Imran Tahir.
The Sultans have a huge opportunity to maximise home advantage in the opening stages of PSL 8.
Watch out for them in the early rounds.
How will the Sultans line up?
Veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard returns to the PSL for the first time since 2019.
Joining him in the engine room is South Africa’s David Miller, one of the world’s best T20 middle order batters.
Rounding out the middle order is Pakistan international Khushdil Shah, who took 16 wickets last season and remains vital for the balance of this side.
Last season, David Willey and Imran Tahir took 29 wickets between them in the Sultans’ run to the final.
However, the 2021 champions do not have their services this season.
The main task for last season’s runners-up, thus, is to adequately replace their output.
The Sultans’ hopes of winning the title in 2023 will likely come down to a couple of key games against the Qalandars once again.
They will primarily look to former Pakistan international Anwar Ali and the recently capped leg spinner Usama Mir to step into the breach.
Emerging player Ihsanullah is also in the mix.
Overseas players for the Sultans
The Sultans have the services of Tim David for part of PSL 8, one of the most exciting batters in any side this season.
The Australia international promises much excitement along with South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw.
Their most valuable overseas players, however, might prove to be bowler Josh Little and all-rounder Akeal Hosein.
Their recent form is encouraging for the Sultans; Little took 11 wickets at an economy of 7 in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia while Hosein bagged 20 poles at an economy of 6.97 across the BBL and the ILT20.
With Wayne Parnell struggling with injury, the Sultans will rely heavily on Little and Hosein in the early part of PSL 8.
Also read: What to expect from the ILT20 Venues?
How did the Sultans go last season?
The Multan Sultans were in red-hot form in the league phase of PSL 7.
They won nine out of ten games, finishing six points clear of the Lahore Qalandars in second, but the Qalandars remained a thorn in the Sultans’ side.
Multan went 2-2 against the Lahore side in PSL 7, losing once in the league and in the final.
The Sultans’ hopes of winning the title in 2023 will likely come down to a couple of key games against the Qalandars once again.
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Top performers for the Sultans in PSL 7
Encouragingly, the Sultans have retained the PSL’s most impressive opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan (546 runs in 2022) and Shan Masood (478).
The duo were, respectively, the league’s second and third top scorers last season.
Pacer Shahnawaz Dahani took 17 wickets in 2022, the highest of any Sultans bowler and the fourth highest in the PSL overall.
He remains the Sultans’ key domestic bowler. This year, he can count on overseas support from Little, Hosein, and Parnell.
Also read: Karachi Kings & Peshawar Zalmi PSL 2023 Previews
Lahore Qalandars PSL 2023 Preview
The Lahore Qalandars begin their title defence against the Multan Sultans in the opening game of PSL 8.
They hit the road for their first three PSL games of the 2023 season before returning to the Gaddafi Stadium.
The Qalandars play four straight games at Lahore and five overall in PSL 8.
All told, the Qalandars boast at least three bowling options in their top six, in addition to four frontline bowlers. They will certainly not lack for overs.
All knockout games are set to be played at Lahore as well.
The Qalandars will aim to retain their PSL crown in their home stadium.
How will the Qalandars line up?
Last season, for Peshawar, Hussain Talat made 177 runs striking at 125 and took four wickets at an economy of 7.88.
His signing adds a great deal of balance to the Qalandars’ side.
Kamran Ghulam received his first cap for Pakistan last month against New Zealand and will be hoping to build on that recognition.
He enjoyed a successful season for Lahore in 2022, making 299 runs.
Only Fakhar Zaman (588 runs) and Mohammad Hafeez (323) had more for the PSL 7 champions.
Abdullah Shafique continues at the top of the order, while Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan will aim to repeat their fast bowling heroics from last season.
Between them, the pair bagged 34 wickets in 2022.
All told, the Qalandars boast at least three bowling options in their top six, in addition to four frontline bowlers.
They will certainly not lack for overs.
Also read: One Player to Watch from Each Women’s T20 World Cup Team
Overseas players for the Qalandars
Unlike other PSL sides, there are few selection dilemmas with respect to overseas players for the Qalandars.
Rashid Khan, a global star and one of the leading T20 players in the world, will make a delayed entry to PSL 8 owing to international commitments but will walk straight into the team when available.
Until then, left arm spinner Liam Dawson is an able deputy.
England duties will likely keep Harry Brook extremely busy but Sam Billings and Shai Hope are effective cover with the added bonus of keeping wicket.
The other two slots will likely be locked down by all-rounders Sikandar Raza and David Wiese.
The Qalandars supplied two of the top three wicket takers in the competition last year.
Over the past year, Raza has played the best cricket of his career for Zimbabwe, averaging 35 with the stick and striking at 150 with five fifties.
With the ball, he has 25 wickets at an economy of 6.13. Zimbabwe’s best player is unquestionably one of the world’s best as well on recent form.
Wiese, meanwhile, was outstanding for the Qalandars last season.
He made his 168 runs at an eye-popping strike rate of 184 and grabbed nine wickets to boot.
The holders’ overseas players are in the form of their lives.
Also read: Quetta Gladiators & Islamabad United PSL 2023 Previews
How did the Qalandars go last season?
The Lahore Qalandars ended the league phase of PSL 2022 in second.
They were ahead of Peshawar Zalmi on run rate with both teams on 12 points.
From there, the Qalandars lost to Multan in the Qualifier.
They subsequently knocked out Islamabad United in the Eliminator – their third win over the side from the capital in 2022.
In the final, they proved too much for Multan, winning by 42 runs.
It was 2-2 over four games between the sides last season – but the Qalandars won the one that really counted.
Top performers for the Qalandars in PSL 7
The Qalandars’ title win was driven by the top scorer and top wicket taker of PSL 7.
Fakhar Zaman compiled a colossal 588 runs striking at 152 in 2022 and he’ll be crucial to their hopes of a title retention.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was the most impressive of an impressive bowling attack.
His 20 wickets were the most in PSL 7.
In fact, the Qalandars supplied two of the top three wicket takers in the competition last year, the other being Zaman Khan.
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