Rizwan Believes Sultans Fell Short by 20 Runs Against United

Following their seven-wicket loss to Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10’s 13th match at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, Multan Sultans’ captain Mohammad Rizwan addressed the team’s shortcomings. The Sultans, after a strong beginning to their home games, chose to bat first against the reigning champions, United.

However, this strategy didn’t pan out as expected for the 2021 champions, who managed to score 168/5 in their allotted 20 overs, despite a resilient half-century from Usman Khan. The United comfortably chased down the 169-run target with 17 balls remaining.

During the post-match presentation, Rizwan reflected on the defeat, stating that the Sultans’ total was approximately 20 runs shy of a competitive score. He mentioned that the team aimed to surpass the 180-run mark.

Mohammad Rizwan stated, “I believe we were approximately 20 runs short today. We were aiming for a score of around 180+ on this pitch. During the second innings, the ball came onto the bat quite smoothly, which made it challenging for our bowlers.”

The wicketkeeper batter also pointed out that the Sultans’ bowling performance in the powerplay was a cause for concern. He acknowledged United’s bowlers for restricting their scoring opportunities.

Rizwan commented, “Our powerplay bowling requires improvement. Credit goes to Islamabad United; they bowled exceptionally well early on, and we need to learn from that.”

The Sultans, who have consistently reached the PSL final since their title win in 2021, now face a critical situation where all their remaining matches are essentially must-win games.

Despite the difficult road ahead, Mohammad Rizwan expressed optimism, recalling that his team faced similar hurdles during their championship-winning season in 2021.

Rizwan acknowledged, “Despite the situation, the team’s morale remains high, and we understand that every game from here on is crucial.”

He concluded, “If you remember our title-winning campaign, we also suffered losses in the first three matches. So, we remain hopeful and focused on what lies ahead.”