PSL 2021: Match 3, Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans – Multan Sultans Predicted Playing XI

Multan Sultans were the best team during the league stages of the Pakistan Super League 2020. But, they failed to turn their good performances in the playoffs as the team ended up as the third-place team by losing both their playoff matches. 

With a few new foreign recruitments and a new captain, Multan would be hopeful that they can turn their fortunes around and win the title. Along with Lahore Qalandars, they are the only two teams who haven’t won any title. 

As they begin their campaign against Islamabad United in the PSL 2021, they will start under a new captain, Mohammad Rizwan, who is expected to bring a lot of energy to this team.

Here is the predicted playing XI for the Multan Sultans for ISL vs MUL in PSL 2021:

Openers (Chris Lynn and Mohammad Rizwan)

Chris Lynn is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world in T20 cricket. Going by his recent form in the Big Bash League 2020-21, where he led Brisbane Heat to the third-place finish, he has been hitting the ball better than ever. 

He was with the Lahore Qalandars and was released ahead of this year’s draft. He is expected to play a big role in supporting Mohammad Rizwan in both opening the innings and captaincy. Speaking of Rizwan, he hasn’t been in bad form either. 

In the recently concluded T20I series between South Africa and Pakistan, he was the leading run-scorer with 198 runs, including a century and a fifty. If he can replicate the batting form he showed in those games, at the PSL, Multan will have a far better chance of winning the title. 

Middle-order (James Vince, Shan Masood, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah)

James Vince has been in some great form with the bat if we take his BBL 2020-21 record. He ended up being the second-highest run-getter in the tournament and scored over 500 runs. In addition, his last two T20 innings are both of 90+, that too in the playoffs of the BBL. Multan would be expecting something similar from him. 

Shan Masood, having led the side last year, will have to take a back-seat but he still has a crucial role to play as a batsman. Along with Rilee Rossouw and Khushdil Shah, Shan Masood has to form a formidable middle-order for the Multan Sultans to succeed. After their top three, who have the ability to score big, the middle-order’s performance will mirror their performance in the league. 

All-rounders (Carlos Braithwaite and Shahid Afridi)

Everyone surely remembers Carlos Braithwaite’s name to date and knows what ability he has with the bat and the ball. He was a top performer for the Sydney Sixers who won the Big Bash League 2020-21 recently. 

In that tournament, he played a key role in the bowling department and would come for the late flourish with the bat. His role on this side would be similar. 

Shahid Afridi is a veteran of the game and while some argue that he is old, the man is still putting up a good show with the bat and the ball. In the recently concluded T10 league in Abu Dhabi, Afridi was seen foxing batsmen and also adding quickfire runs down the order as a handy batsman. 

Bowlers (Sohail Tanvir, Usman Qadir, and Imran Tahir)

Sohail Tanvir batting at no.9 means the team bats deep. Tanvir has tremendous wrist power and is capable of clearing the boundaries for fun. But, it is his bowling with which he can impact a T20 match like no one else. 

Usman Qadir will get an opportunity to share the ball with Imran Tahir. For Tahir, it will be playing with the son of his idol, Usman Qadir. But, apart from the philosophical aspect of this, it will be good to watch them bowl together; they both like to attack the batsmen, looking for wickets.