LAHORE, 4 April 2025:
It has become a cliché that “bowlers are always at the receiving end” in the rapid-fire Twenty20 format of cricket. Flat pitches, field restrictions, short boundaries and powerful bats all skew the game in favor of batters. Fans also want to see boundaries and sixes off every delivery. While this might be unfortunate for bowlers, those who seek to excel in adversity find it a challenge worth embracing.
The brevity of the T20 format and its popularity demand quick adjustments, using several ploys such as slower balls, carrom balls, slow bouncers, yorkers, and variations in length. A bowler who lacks variety often watches his deliveries sail beyond the rope. Despite the challenge, most bowlers have become astute thinkers, planning every delivery with precision.
However, one thing is greatly in bowlers’ favor: the saying, “Batters win you matches, but bowlers win you tournaments.”
Not only do international teams emphasise the importance of quality bowlers, but franchises in global leagues also prioritise them. All franchises hire specialised bowling coaches to refine skills specifically for 20-over cricket, focusing on how best to deliver impactful four-over spells.
Since Multan Sultans joined the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the franchise has consistently chosen bowlers suited to the format, backed by coaches who help hone their skills to not only stem the flow of runs but also strike with wickets. It’s no surprise that Multan Sultans’ win percentage is the best among all PSL teams – an impressive 56.96 per cent with 45 wins in 79 matches. Although it’s a collective effort in all three departments, bowlers have stood out.
The great Wasim Akram was among those who initially helped raise the standards of the Sultans’ bowling attack. Last season, the Sultans appointed former Irish international bowler Catherine Dalton, an England and Wales Cricket Board-certified Level 3 Advanced Coach, as their bowling coach – the first female coach in PSL history.
After two initially challenging seasons in which the Sultans finished fifth each time, they gradually rose up the ranks.
In 2020, they reached the playoffs, and a year later, they were crowned champions. The 2021 victory was as much due to the batters as the bowlers. They defeated Lahore Qalandars by 47 runs in the Abu Dhabi final – a tournament played in two phases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The wily leg-spinner Imran Tahir grabbed three for 33, while fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani (2-26) and Imran Khan (2-27) restricted a star-studded Lahore to 159 for nine. Shahnawaz Dahani led the title campaign with 20 wickets at 17.00, while Imran Tahir (13 at 13.07), Imran Khan (12 at 14.91), and Blessing Muzarabani (10 at 14.40) chipped in admirably.
TOP 5 BOWLERS FOR MULTAN SULTANS:
Imran Tahir – 5 seasons, 37 matches, 53 wickets
The wily leg-spinner is as cunning as a fox, using a bag of tricks to flummox batters. After featuring for Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup in 1998 but failing to secure a spot in the national team, Imran migrated to South Africa to pursue international cricket. A true journeyman in every sense, his name became synonymous with T20 leagues worldwide.
From 2018 to 2022, Imran represented Multan Sultans in 37 matches, taking 53 wickets – the most by any Sultan – at an average of 17.83 and an economy rate of 6.94, proving he’s both a wicket-taker and economical.
Usama Mir – 2 seasons, 44 wickets in 24 matches
Usama Mir has been a sought-after talent in franchise T20 cricket. He has played in the Caribbean Premier League, Big Bash League, The Hundred and Toronto Nationals, making an impact in each tournament.
Tall and crafty, Usama’s uncanny ability to spin the ball makes him a potent wicket-taker. In the PSL, he has taken 59 wickets in 44 games, with 41 coming for Multan Sultans in just 24 matches over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He picked up 17 wickets in 12 matches in 2023 and topped the charts with 24 in 12 matches the following year, helping the Sultans finish as runners-up both times.
Shahnawaz Dahani – 4 seasons, 39 wickets in 27 matches
Spotted by Multan Sultans and groomed under their development programme, the village boy from Sindh made an instant impact in his first season, taking 20 wickets at 17.00 to play a key role in the Sultans’ maiden title win in 2021.
Since then, injuries and inconsistent form have made his journey a rollercoaster, but he remains a match-winner when fit. Dahani has taken 39 wickets for Multan Sultans in 27 matches across four seasons.
Abbas Afridi – 3 seasons, 39 wickets in 25 matches
A product of Pakistan’s Under-19 setup, Abbas Afridi featured in the 2022 Junior World Cup and caught the eye of the Multan Sultans. He struggled initially in PSL 2022, claiming just three wickets in five matches, but the franchise’s faith paid off when he topped the 2023 bowling chart with 23 wickets at 16.17.
Teaming up with the fiery Ihsanullah, who took 22 wickets, Abbas was pivotal in Multan’s run to the final, where they narrowly lost to Lahore Qalandars. He claimed 13 wickets in nine games last season.
David Willey – 3 seasons, 28 wickets in 19 matches
When there’s a will, there’s a David Willey – a mantra that rings true for every team he represents. The son of former England international and renowned umpire Peter Willey, David has an attacking approach that makes him a threat in white-ball cricket.
In the last three PSL seasons (2022-2024), Willey has been an integral part of Multan Sultans, taking 28 wickets in 19 matches. His best came in 2022 when he claimed 13 wickets at an average of 16.00 with an economy rate of 8.15.
Best Bowling in a PSL Match by a Multan Sultans Bowler:
6-24 Umar Gul vs Gladiators, Sharjah 2018 – the third-best in all PSL editions.
