Sultans aim to resurrect HBL PSL X season as they face Qalandars tonight

The Multan Sultans will be eagerly looking for their maiden victory, following three successive defeats, when they meet in-form Lahore Qalandars in their crucial game at the Multan Cricket Stadium tonight.

Sultans utterly disappointed their fans with below-par showing in both their batting and bowling in their previous games. It's a worrying sign for Mohammad Rizwan and his head coach Abdul Rahman as they are finding it difficult to put their brigade on the right track. Another defeat at this stage will make it difficult for them to keep their playoffs hopes alive.

However, this is the right moment to get momentum as they are now set to play at their own backyard, Multan, which has been always a hunting place for them.

Multan Sultans will need to form better strategy and implement it with Mohammad Rizwan leading from the front. He is in form, having already hit a century but he will have to anchor the innings and stay till the end.

In the first game against the Karachi Kings, Multan posted a good total of 234-3. However, they bowlers were punished and Kings achieved the target with four balls to spare thanks to James Vince's outstanding knock of 43-ball 101.

Multan Sultans then went down to Islamabad United by 47 runs in Pindi. Sultans failed to chase 203 and were skittled out for just 155. They even lost to Zalmi in more appalling state as they were bowled out for only 107 while chasing a target of 228 in Pindi with the hosts notching a record 120-run win. Sultans’ batting looked clueless and they were bundled out within no time.

Sultans have good bowling combination but it has unable to deliver, so far, the way they should have.

Lahore Qalandars have also looked good this season. They have won twice in three games which has ensured a good start for them.

After losing their opener against Islamabad United, Qalandars have made a marked return by pulling off two successive wins. They defeated Quetta Gladiators by 79 runs and demolished Karachi Kings by 65 runs at the latter's backyard. The credit goes to Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Afridi. After having failed in the first game against United Fakhar scored back-to-back fifties in the next two games against Gladiators and Kings which left an impact.

His 125-run third wicket stand with Daryl Mitchell (75) was key in Qalandars' success against Kings as they posted 201-6. And then Shaheen (3-36) and Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain (3-26) did the job as Kings were folded for 136.

Shaheen has been in terrific form and he has been able to get wickets in his first spell which sets the tempo.

Qalandars have solid pace-battery and their spinners Rishad and Asif Afridi have also been effective this season so far as well. Zimbabwe's all-rounder Sikandar Raza has also bowled well at times.

Multan Sultans:

Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Akif Javed, Michael Bracewell, Shai Hope, Faisal Akram, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, Chris Jordan, Josh Little, Mohammad Hasnain, Gudakesh Motie, Mohammad Amir Burki, Shahid Aziz, Tayyab Tahir, Ashton Turner, Ubaid Shah, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, David Willey, Yasir Khan

Lahore Qalandars:

Faheem Ashraf, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Rilee Rossouw, Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Haseebullah Khan, Khawaja Muhammad Nafay, Kyle Jamieson, Khurram Shahzad, Usman Tariq, Mohammad Zeeshan, Hasan Nawaz, Danish Aziz, Kusal Mendis, Sean Abbott, Shoaib Malik