United seek third title against consistent Sultans

KARACHI: The 2016 and 2018 HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) champions Islamabad United will seek to become the league’s most successful franchise as they take on the 2021 winners Multan Sultans at the National Bank Stadium on Monday (today).

United have a clear record of emerging on top in the finals, as they have played two finals and won on both occasions, while Sultans are playing their fourth final, having lost in 2022 and 2023, and will try to end the two-year drought and be level with United and Lahore Qalandars.

Both teams defeated each other at their respective home grounds in the league matches. Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Sultans have been the most consistent side, topping the tables with seven wins out of 10.

While the Shadab Khan-led United, who have displayed attacking cricket under the new coach Mike Hesson, won five matches to bag 11 points. They have peaked just at the right time, beating Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi in the Eliminators. The way United outclassed Quetta in Eliminator 1 and their unlikely victory against Peshawar in the Eliminator 2 tilt the chances in their favour.

Sultans have bowlers and batters who have topped the charts. United also possess players that can rise to the occasion like Imad Wasim and Haider Ali did against Zalmi with a sensational partnership.

In terms of batting, United have power hitters in Shadab Khan, Azam Khan and Haider Ali. Imad Wasim and Martin Guptill also contributed well-anchored fifties under pressure besides launching big shots.

On the Sultans’ side, right-hander Usman Khan, who has struck two tons with 373 runs in just six innings, poses a threat to United bowlers. Rizwan has scored 366 runs, is good at anchoring the innings, but looked shaky in the Qualifier.

The half-century by opener Yasir Khan in the Qualifier has given a confidence boost to Sultans’ batting. While Johnson Charles and Iftikhar Ahmed are fit to churn quick runs in the death overs.

In bowling, David Willey has been good with the new ballup front. Chris Jordan has been excellent at death by firing cracking yorkers, which he showed in Multan’s last match. Mohammad Ali and Abbas Aridi have also been good.

Iftikhar Ahmed and Khushdil Shah are additional spin-bowling options. Moreover, the leading wicket-taker, Usama Mir, with 23 scalps, has been Sultans’ trump card.

On the other hand, United’s bowling got a boost as Imad returned to form with crucial wickets in the Eliminator 1 and delivered an economical spell in the Qualifier. Shadab Khan and pacer Naseem Shah are the other two bowlers. They have picked up 10 and 14 wickets, respectively. The change in the behaviour of Karachi’s pitch has been surprising as the last match turned out to be a high-scoring one.

TODAY’S FIXTURE

Islamabad vs Multan

9:00 pm PST