LAHORE, 5 April 2025:
The fast and furious style of batting in Twenty20 cricket not only enchants fans but also enables batters to achieve astonishing feats. Who can forget the swashbuckling 36-ball century by Usman Khan for Multan Sultans against Quetta Gladiators in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2023.
Just like many other traditions of Multan, aggressive batting has become a trademark of the Multan Sultans franchise.
Incidentally, the top three fastest centuries in PSL history have been scored by batters from this popular franchise. Rilee Rossouw hammered a 43-ball hundred against Quetta at the Sultans’ home ground in Multan in 2020. He then bettered that feat by two deliveries against Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi during the 2023 edition. But Usman Khan needed only 24 hours to eclipse that record, scoring a breathtaking 36-ball century – also against Quetta at the same venue.
To meet the demands of high-impact, modern T20 cricket, Multan Sultans have employed specialised power-hitting coaches. England’s renowned Julian Wood previously trained their batters, while Yahya Khan currently oversees the development of modern power-hitting techniques.
Data reveals that Multan Sultans batters are particularly ruthless against anything back of a length, amassing 1,466 runs off spinners delivering that length. Pacers have also been punished, conceding 1,447 runs off back-of-length balls and 1,941 off short deliveries.
In addition to Rossouw and Usman Khan (discovered by Multan Sultans), other notable players to have represented the franchise with distinction include Australian dasher Tim David, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kumar Sangakkara, Sohaib Maqsood, Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed.
TOP 5 MULTAN SULTANS BATTERS
Mohammad Rizwan – 4 seasons, 2,003 runs in 48 matches
Since joining Multan Sultans, Rizwan has not only received consistent opportunities but has also proved his mettle as a premier T20 batter. He was appointed captain in 2021 – the year Sultans clinched the PSL title.
Rizwan has a unique ability to accelerate during the slog overs.
In his debut season for the franchise, he scored 500 runs at an average of 45.45 and a strike rate of 132.53, playing a pivotal role in the title run. He followed that up with 546 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 126.68. His best came in the eighth edition, where he amassed 550 runs – the most in the tournament – at an average of 55 and a strike rate of 142.85, including a century and four fifties. In the most recent edition, he added 407 runs in 12 matches.
The numbers and charts show that Rizwan is not only the backbone of Multan Sultans’ batting but also one of the PSL’s star attractions.
Shan Masood – 5 seasons, 1,318 runs in 43 matches
Initially considered a red-ball specialist, Shan Masood’s T20 credentials were established through his time with Multan Sultans. He also captained the side following the departures of Shoaib Malik and Kumar Sangakkara.
His strike-rate of 133.94 is slightly higher than Rizwan’s, surprising many cricket analysts. His standout season came when he scored 478 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 138.15.
Rilee Rossouw – 4 seasons, 1,117 runs in 43 matches
Rossouw is arguably the best overseas player in PSL history, holding two of the top three fastest centuries in the league. Known for his aggressive intent, he attacks bowlers with ease and precision, especially in the middle and death overs.
His best season was in 2023, where he accumulated 453 runs in 11 matches at an average of 45.30 and an astonishing strike rate of 171.59, including a 43-ball century.
Sohaib Maqsood – 5 seasons, 771 runs in 29 matches
Once likened to the great Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sohaib Maqsood was brought into the Multan setup as a homegrown talent. While he failed to meet the expectations at various levels, he delivered his best in the 2021 season, scoring 428 runs at an average of 47.55. He played a match-winning knock of 65 off 35 balls in the final against Peshawar Zalmi in Abu Dhabi, earning both the Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament awards.
Usman Khan – 2 seasons, 597 runs in 11 matches
Usman Khan has been a revelation in the last two editions of the PSL. His performances were so impactful that he earned a national call-up without significant exposure to first-class or List A cricket.
His rise is a testament to the confidence shown by the Multan Sultans management. Usman has three centuries in just two PSL editions – one of them a blistering 36-ball effort against Quetta in 2023. That year, he scored 167 runs in just four matches at a staggering strike rate of 198.80.
In the most recent season, he piled up 430 runs in just seven games – second-highest overall – at an average of 107.50 and a strike rate of 164.12, including two centuries.
Usman Khan has truly lit up the Multan Sultans’ batting lineup in the last two seasons.
