PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE 2019 PREVIEW: How will the 'new' Multan Sultans fare?

Ahead of the 2019 PSL, The Cricketer previews the Multan Sultans and whether new ownership will bring new-found success...

For a short period, it looked like the Multan Sultans may no longer be part of the PSL after only one year, but the new owners decided that the side known briefly as ‘The Sixth Team’ were going to stick with the name.

They even went into the draft still called The Sixth Team with the Pakistan Cricket Board in control of the team. The process of finding a new owner concluded in December however, and the Multan Sultans remain.

Though technically a new team, the side has retained some of the old squad for the upcoming season and will be hoping new ownership brings new-found success.

Who are the star players?

At one point it looked like banned former Australia captain Steve Smith was going to be their hallmark overseas player, but injury has meant they had to find a replacement, and boy did they find a replacement - West Indies allrounder Andre Russell.

He is joined by the legendary Shahid Afridi, and the perennial T20 winner Dan Christian in a side which combines experience with a knack for winning.

Mohammad Irfan was a consistent performer with the ball in the 2018 PSL, and is one of the most economic T20 bowlers in the game.

He holds the record for the most economic spell in the history of T20 cricket, going for just one run off four overs during the 2018 Caribbean Premier League.

^{Andre Russell}

Who is in charge?

Former South Africa allrounder Johan Botha is the head coach having taken over from Tom Moody, who left after their first season. This is his first head coaching role having retired from playing in January 2019.

Shoaib Malik continues as captain, having skippered the side during their first season in the competition too.

What are their strengths?

One thing that the Multan Sultans can say is that they have players who know how to win. Their strengths may lie mainly in their batting, but in Christian, Russell, and Afridi, they have players who can produce with bat and ball.

A key feature of T20 sides that win tournaments are effective allrounders. Between the three of them, they have won nine T20 tournaments over the past three years.

Christian, in particular, has been an impressive performer for the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash where he has contributed with both bat and ball to help them make the knockout stage.

^{Dan Christian}

What are their weaknesses?

The Sultans' bowling is probably a bit barer than their batting. Players like the aforementioned Irfan are reliable performers, but beyond him the likes of Junaid Khan and Mohammad Abbas are hardly stellar T20 bowlers.

The 18-year-old Afghan spin bowler Qais Ahmed is a new signing and already has 32 wickets in 26 matches, at an average of 18.68. He could well be a player to inject some life into their attack, along with the wily Afridi.

What’s their history in the competition?

2018 - Fifth

Prediction - Group Stage

PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE 2019 SQUADS