Multan, April 24, 2025:
Multan Sultans all-rounder Michael Bracewell remains confident of his team’s chances of reaching the play-offs, despite a challenging start to the season that has seen them pick up just one win in their first five matches.
Speaking after a narrow defeat at home to Islamabad United, Bracewell acknowledged that the side has struggled for consistency, but believes there’s plenty of time – and talent – for a strong turnaround.
“T20 is a funny game. If we can lose four out of five, we can just as easily win four out of five,” Bracewell said. “That would put us right in the hunt, especially with four teams qualifying for the play-offs. If we can get into the play-offs, anything can happen.”
He admitted the team hasn’t always played as a cohesive unit but stressed that the quality is there.
“There’s work to be done, and it’s back to the drawing board,” he said. “I don’t think we’re playing terrible cricket, but maybe we’re just losing those key moments. If we can recognise and seize those moments, I think we’ll be in a good place.”
The Sultans will look to revive their campaign in upcoming matches against Lahore Qalandars (April 26) and Quetta Gladiators (April 29) in Lahore, before returning to Multan for their final three group games, including two crucial day fixtures against Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators.
Looking ahead, Bracewell remained upbeat.
“We’re coming off a good win against Lahore a couple of nights ago, so hopefully we can do the double on them and carry that momentum forward,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll come out firing – they’ve got a great side. But that’s the beauty of the PSL: six strong teams, and you have to be on form every night to compete.”
“We weren’t tonight, but we’ve still got five games to go. Like I said, anything can happen if we keep the right attitude.”
Despite their current position near the bottom of the table, the Sultans can take heart from their remarkable 2021 campaign – where they bounced back from a similarly tough start to win six of their last seven matches and ultimately lift the trophy.
Addressing the mood in the camp and how the team stays motivated, Bracewell said:
“It should be easy to stay motivated. We’ve played some really good cricket along the way, but mostly in patches rather than as a team.”
“Individually, everyone’s had a good performance or two this season, but to win games, you need a few guys firing together on the same night. As cricketers, we all want to put our best foot forward, and I’m sure the boys will be working hard in training over the next few days to be ready for that game against Lahore.”
Bracewell admitted the loss to Islamabad United at home was frustrating, particularly given the Sultans’ desire to make their Multan ground a stronghold.
“It’s obviously disappointing to lose, especially here at home in Multan. We like to think of this ground as a fortress, and unfortunately, we weren’t able to get over the line today,” he said.
“I think we were probably 10 or 15 runs short with the bat. The dew came in a bit this evening, which may have made batting slightly easier. Credit to them – they played really well. But there’s plenty for us to work on heading into the next match.”
Reflecting on the contrasting performances between their win against Lahore and the latest defeat, Bracewell said the team struggled to maintain early momentum.
“Yeah, I think after a performance like yesterday, you hope to carry that momentum into the next game. Unfortunately, we didn’t get off to the best of starts,” he said.
“Islamabad bowled really well and kept things tight during the PowerPlay, which made scoring difficult. If we had gotten off to a flyer, we might’ve carried that momentum forward. But they shut us down quickly and took the early ascendancy.”
