What are the reasons for failure of Multan Sultans in PSL X?

[BouncerGuy]

Multan Sultans, once a dominant force in the PSL, are facing a harsh reality in the tenth season. With only two points from seven games, their campaign is collapsing, and even winning all remaining matches may not be enough to secure a playoff spot.

Their struggles stem from poor execution in crunch moments—despite posting competitive totals, their bowling has failed to defend scores. Fielding lapses have further hurt their chances, with dropped catches and misfields piling pressure on their bowlers. Off-field disruptions, including relocated home games, have added to their woes.

Foreign players, expected to carry the team, have underperformed, leaving captain Mohammad Rizwan with little support. Meanwhile, rivals like Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi have gained momentum, making Multan’s playoff hopes increasingly unrealistic.

With time running out, their fate is all but sealed. What should their management focus on for the next season?

 

[Rana]

Ohhh boy here we go…

 

[Rana]

Where do I start? Let me try to break this down….

1. It starts with the retentions. MS were dealt a heavy blow before the draft with some of their key Pakistan performers moving up in categories. Some examples such as Usama Mir being moved into Platinum, also Muhammad Ali and Abbas Afridi. This created a lot of issues for them when trying to retain these players because they clearly wanted to retain them in the low categories from which they were delivering more than they were expected to deliver. The issue is further enhanced when MS also insisted or had no disputes on the status of Mohammad Rizwan in the platinum category too. Which means they already handicap themselves with a non deserving platinum category player, they have no choice but to be set back. The issue was to either let go of Usama Mir and open up the slot for 2 platinum picks, or trust him as the key player and choose only one out of the draft roster. They went with the second option and as you can see, it didnt pay off. This one decision has been the reason why the entire shake up, and having no choice but to release guys like Abbass, Ali, Khushdil (who was demanding a higher category and wasn’t willing to be retained in the one set for him). More than Multan, it was Rizwan who backed Iftikhar to be retained even though it was becoming evidently clear that the man has been on a rapid decline since last year’s PSL. This was also a very poor decision that has cost them, as Iftikhar has to be the highest paid bits and pieces cricketer maybe in the entire PSL this year. The overseas retentions of Jordan and Willey were also highly poor decisions, and this has more to do with Ali Tareen who has shown a lot of trust and dependence on the two England players to cultivate the direction and mindset of the team. Ali Tareen overestimated their value in the competition and did not take the punt on them by releasing them and picking them up anyways in the draft, a bit like how Qalandars know they will pick up David Wiese regardless even if they don’t retain him. Poor, pathetic decisions in the retention laid the basis of then a poor draft.

 

[Rana]

2. Before I go into Ali Tareen’s off field antics that have lead MS down the wrong path, I must highlight the misleading done by the playing management of Multan Sultans in the build up and during the draft.

The Sultan’s management were the first to let out the forecast of how the tracks in Pakistan would behave during the April/May season. It was the management who were constantly propagating that the tracks will be more conducive to spin this time due to the weather and the time of year, and that their draft strategy will be based around this. No other franchise was openly stating anything like this, and they were not giving anything away as to how they want to approach the draft with their retentions in mind.

Now, one should question as to how the MS management have drawn this conclusion that the tracks will be highly conducive to spin? Who would have this type of information? It cannot be Ali Tareen or his administration as they are not experienced cricketers in Pakistan. It cannot be Multan’s overseas coaches and senior overseas players, they are not familiar with the conditions in Pakistan at home so it cannot be the ones forcefully advocating this agenda. It can be, and it is the Multan head coach Abdul Rehman, and the Pakistan captain Muhammad Rizwan who have that clear knowledge of Pakistan tracks, and are the most influential voices in that dug out when it comes to strategy. So this falls upon them, as it’s their lead that has played it’s role in the draft. Multan already gave the hint that they will not be relying on strong overseas batters, or batters who are known to go hard because they want to build a strategy that is 140-160 runs on the board to win the game. This is how they had already shown their hand in what they are intending to do in the draft and how they wish to set up. The excuse was created (by them), it was latched on to the way Rizwan looks to immediately latch on to any excuse to get stuck on the cease instead of attacking, and they ran hard with it! Multan wanted to create an atmosphere and strategy where Rizwan wanted his approach with the bat to look valid and important, even though the demand and cry at the moment in world cricket is to go as hard as you possibly can! This is something Rizwan has stubbornly refused to accept, and now it has cost him and his franchise massively!

 

[Rana]

3. The horror show of a draft. After setting up the false basis of “highly spin conducive tracks”, the forced but poor retentions, and with Ali Tareen saying things which he should not have regarding players from other teams…we now come to the draft day for Multan to build a squad that might actually push them over the line this time. They have been the most vocal before the draft, their chairman has a lot to say about the PSL management, other franchises, other players, about Pakistan conditions (lol)…well now was the time to show everyone how professional you truly are with your draft picks.

As I said earlier, Multan had already played their hand in more ways than one with the mislead idea of spin conducive tracks, and with Tareen sab already ruling out the potential of signing David Warner for strange reasons. Multan knew that their only platinum pick was the 6th one in the draft. This year, the PSL boasted of some of very strong overseas players with good IPL and International cricket exposure. Some world renowned current players were in the draft as opposed to the usual retired pros, or half hearted ones, or those who are completely unknown and don’t even play franchise cricket in their own countries. This was an excellent platinum+Diamond roster. The choices were good this time, but Multan still wanted to go down a route that only they can explain as to how it makes any sense. For some bizarre reason, Multan who had the option of Glen Chapman (a middle order leftie who Tareen wanted because Rizwan is Jason Roy in his mind), and Finn Allen still unpicked in the draft….yet they went with Micheal Bracewell?! What and why? Nothing against Bracewell the player, but what and who gave them the indication that this is a player most sought after and he won’t be available to them if they do not get him there and then??? Whose feeding them this nonsense?? Whose telling them to waste their platinum picks on decent squad+first XI players and not actual match winners??? The one player who could have shaped their entire team and strategy for a winning cause was Micheal Bracewell???? Serious questions need to be raised right here! After this, they had to skip two categories because the retentions done by them were stacked in those two categories…and then they were trying to play catch up with the remaining categories and looking to find unknown gems who might do the trick.

 

[Rana]

If you have retained Faisal Akram as one of your 8, and he isn’t an emerging player anymore….

Why not play him in a single game???

 

[Rana]

How are guys selected for Pakistan under Rizwan (Kamran and Tayyab) not being given a proper run in the Sultan’s team?


Wasn’t this the same Rizwan who cried to the media when Imad wasn’t playing him in the KK first team even though he boasted of being the Pakistan wicket keeper?? What happened now Rizwan?

 

[BouncerGuy]

Perfect treat thread for @Rana I was waiting for your reply...

 

[Rana]

Perfect treat thread for @Rana I was waiting for your reply...

Send it to your mate Ali Tareen. Let’s see what he says.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Send it to your mate Ali Tareen. Let’s see what he says.

Since when Ali tareen is my mate...??

The way he shaped his team in PSL 10, it was bound to fail.

 

[Rana]

Since when Ali tareen is my mate...??

The way he shaped his team in PSL 10, it was bound to fail.

I thought you worked with Sultan’s before. Someone in the admin has. Behram often gives shout outs to him on his podcast.

 

[BouncerGuy]

I thought you worked with Sultan’s before. Someone in the admin has. Behram often gives shout outs to him on his podcast.

LOL... never worked in a cricket-related scenario before PP.

But anyways... TBH, multan deserved to be knocked out. Their squad selection was pathetic IMO.

 

[mominsaigol]

LOL... never worked in a cricket-related scenario before PP.

But anyways... TBH, multan deserved to be knocked out. Their squad selection was pathetic IMO.

If you actually worked for PCB, them bro, can you give me a job at PCB? Preferably in administration?

I would like to make some changes

 

[BouncerGuy]

If you actually worked for PCB, them bro, can you give me a job at PCB? Preferably in administration?

I would like to make some changes

Not I have not.. Anyway... Let's get back to the topic..

 

[Savak]

Rizwan's slow selfish knocks at the top was going to catch up with them. No Russow, Tim David to bail them out this time.

Multans have also moved away from their core bowling line up ie Dhani, Mohd Ali, Abbas Afridi, Usama Mir, Ehsanullah. These things make a tremendous difference

Also Alamgir Tareen was a better franchise owner who went about his job quietly. Ali Tareen in comparison is a complete joker.

 

[amvbfm]

Both strategy and execution has been flawed. They let go a few key players and retained out of form/declining ones like Iftikhar and Usama. Bracewell was key to their strategy and he has failed spectacularly. Rizwan who has always been their lynchpin has been a weakness despite scoring heavily. The only positive has been Ubaid’s bowling. The energy just hasn’t been there and they seemed to have given up 2-3 matches ago. Add to it Ali Tareen’s theatrics and it’s been a total fiasco at all levels.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

An owner who is least concerned with the formation and performance of his team is the chief culprit. It wasn't just a poorly made machine, it lacked a lot of crucial parts. Ali Tareen is too busy pushing his agenda of feminizing the men's cricket and scoring points on social media.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

A lot has been said about Ali Tareen, the performance at the draft, and some of the style of team building. All of it is true. The team was horribly put together and was unlikely to qualify. However are these players really so bad that they can only win one match?

From a Pakistani POV they have Rizwan, Kamran, Ifti, Hasnain, Usama Mir, Tayab Tahir and Usman Khan. These are all players in or around the national team. One of them is the captain!

These guys should be hanging their heads in shame that they couldn't put their hands up, conjure some magic and drag their sorry team over the line in a couple of matches.

Structural issues are of course important but come on guys swing the bat a bit and see what happens too.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

A lot has been said about Ali Tareen, the performance at the draft, and some of the style of team building. All of it is true. The team was horribly put together and was unlikely to qualify. However are these players really so bad that they can only win one match?

From a Pakistani POV they have Rizwan, Kamran, Ifti, Hasnain, Usama Mir, Tayab Tahir and Usman Khan. These are all players in or around the national team. One of them is the captain!

These guys should be hanging their heads in shame that they couldn't put their hands up, conjure some magic and drag their sorry team over the line in a couple of matches.

Structural issues are of course important but come on guys swing the bat a bit and see what happens too.

When the team is disjointed, it happens. The same is happening with the national team as well.
Although Iftikhar, Hasnain and Tayyab Tahir aren't among the best in the domestic. Iftikhar is well past it. Hasnain is a mentally fragile bowler. Tayyab Tahir is still hyped for that one inning against India Emerging. Although he hasn't been given a fair chance this season either. Rizwan is lacking the mental resolve to brave through this fire.

 

[zaidihusain]

A lot has been said about Ali Tareen, the performance at the draft, and some of the style of team building. All of it is true. The team was horribly put together and was unlikely to qualify. However are these players really so bad that they can only win one match?

From a Pakistani POV they have Rizwan, Kamran, Ifti, Hasnain, Usama Mir, Tayab Tahir and Usman Khan. These are all players in or around the national team. One of them is the captain!

These guys should be hanging their heads in shame that they couldn't put their hands up, conjure some magic and drag their sorry team over the line in a couple of matches.

Structural issues are of course important but come on guys swing the bat a bit and see what happens too.

Absolutely correct and these players failed to perform at their home conditions

 

[Shehmir]

MS were so consistent in previous editions of PSL. Its hard to believe how such downfall happened to them.

 

[Shehmir]

I believe in league cricket external factors plays a big role in mindset of cricketers.

 

[Rana]

MS were so consistent in previous editions of PSL. Its hard to believe how such downfall happened to them.

It’s not hard to believe at all if you follow world cricket

The overseas players in this year’s edition are the strongest in the history of the tournament. All other teams have tapped into the quality to lift the teams. MS didn’t

Bracewell
Hope
Willey
Jordan
Turner
Campher

This kind of overseas roster is ok when other teams depend on guys like Wiese and Samit Patel….

 

[Shehmir]

It’s not hard to believe at all if you follow world cricket

The overseas players in this year’s edition are the strongest in the history of the tournament. All other teams have tapped into the quality to lift the teams. MS didn’t

Bracewell
Hope
Willey
Jordan
Turner
Campher

This kind of overseas roster is ok when other teams depend on guys like Wiese and Samit Patel….

But unfortunately their overseas players did'nt performed as per the expectation.

 

[Shehmir]

But unfortunately their overseas players did'nt performed as per the expectation.

Despite having Jordan the specialist death bowler MS struggle a lot in this area throughout the tournament

 

[Shehmir]

Also Usman Khan was so consistent for MS in previous tournaments did'nt performed as per expectation

 

[Rana]

But unfortunately their overseas players did'nt performed as per the expectation.

They are not the level of overseas you need when others have bolstered up