Top takes on bottom as Multan and Lahore clash

Both sides looking to win for different reasons

DUBAI: Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) best side Multan Sultans take on its worst side in Lahore Qalandars at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 8 looking to avoid what could be an embarrassing and costly slip-up.

Such is Multan’s dominance, especially with the bat, that they boast three batsmen in the top six run-getters of the tournament. Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara is currently the proud holder of the Hanif Muhammad cap, while he is followed by skipper Shoaib Malik in second. While it comes as no surprise that these two giants of the game sit atop the run charts, Sohaib Maqsood’s sixth position is quite unlikely.

“I have been practicing for this format for quite a long time,” said Maqsood, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Since the requirement of this game is hard-hitting and playing fast, I have developed my skills accordingly and that is helping me score runs.”

Maqsood’s 85 against Peshawar is the highest individual score of this season’s PSL and Maqsood said the key to that knock was his decision to get used to how the pitch behaves first.

“I was able to score big in the match against Peshawar, who have a lot of good bowlers,” he said. “Once you get a hold of the innings by reading the pitch behaviour, then it is easy to stay and score runs. The first three or four over are difficult, but once you survive that the pressure shifts onto the opposition team and they have try different things to get you out. That is where you get some loose balls too.”

Lahore, by their own admission, have been woeful in the tournament so far but Maqsood refuses to write off the league’s bottom side, stating that they will be doing their best to qualify for the playoffs. “I will try to play for the team and give the bowlers a good score to defend,” he added.

Another pleasant surprise for Multan was the performance of veteran Umar Gul, who picked up six wickets in a losing cause on his debut for the newcomers. “I had been waiting for this moment for a long time,” he said. “I was mentally prepared to make my first appearance and I am glad that I did, but at the same time I am sad that we didn’t win the match.”

Gul is one of the leading wicket-takers in T20I cricket and was Pakistan’s best bowler when they won the World T20 in 2009 but the right-arm pacer has said he prefers the longest format to the shortest one.

“My favourite format is Test cricket but I have honed my skills according to this format and give my best,” he said.

Lahore know they need to improve drastically if they are to claim a playoff spot. “We are confident of winning our remaining matches,” said star opener Fakhar Zaman. “We all know our roles and have a definite game plan that we will be sticking to for the upcoming games.”