Sultans Accepted Three Options, Nadeem Confirms

LAHORE: Nadeem Khan, director of Multan Sultans, affirmed on Monday that the franchise is in agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to revise the schedule for 10 matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season.

The cricket board had declared on Sunday its plan to alter the timing of two PSL 10 games, citing logistical considerations and the recent heatwave conditions in various regions.

Consequently, the afternoon match in the May 1 double-header, initially set to feature Multan Sultans against Karachi Kings at the Multan Cricket Stadium, has been relocated to Gaddafi Stadium.

Additionally, the final match of the Multan leg, where Multan Sultans were to host Quetta Gladiators, has been moved to the evening of May 11.

Nadeem responded to these changes by confirming that the franchise was consulted prior to the rescheduling. He acknowledged that while the venue change for the May 1 afternoon match would cause financial strain, the franchise would continue to support the PCB’s determination.

“We engaged in discussions regarding the match shift and were presented with three alternatives, all of which we approved,” Nadeem stated to the media on Monday.

“This decision will result in financial implications and will deny fans the opportunity to watch cricket; however, we are aligned with the PCB’s verdict,” he elaborated.

In contrast to the PCB’s rationale for rescheduling, Nadeem Khan suggested that the decision stemmed from Karachi Kings’ challenges related to their congested upcoming schedule.

“Karachi Kings faced scheduling conflicts with a number of matches on the horizon, prompting this decision. Although there are associated losses, we are proceeding in accordance with the PCB’s directive,” Nadeem explained.

The Sultans, consistent participants in the PSL final since their championship victory in 2021, are experiencing difficulties in the current PSL 10 season, positioned at the bottom of the table with just two points from six games.

Regarding the team’s underwhelming performance, Nadeem noted that their international platinum players have not performed up to expectations.