Here's why Multan only included two overseas stars in playing XI against Lahore

Multan Sultans could only field two overseas players in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine match against Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium.

According to the PSL regulations, a minimum of three foreign players should be in the playing XI but due to injuries, Multan could only field two. Multan management sought and obtained approval from the PCB event technical committee to field only two overseas players.

As per local media reports English players Dawid Malan, David Willey, and Chris Jordan are not available for the selection due to niggles. Only South Africa's Reeza Hendricks and UAE's Usman Khan are the overseas pros.

Multan Sultans (Playing XI): Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Usman Khan, Reeza Hendricks, Tayyab Tahir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Usama Mir, Aftab Ibrahim, Faisal Akram, Mohammad Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani

It must be noted that Usman Khan played a commanding innings of 96 runs to help Multan post a massive total of 214-4 against Lahore.

In their first match of PSL 9 away from home, Multan chose to bat first. However, Lahore made an early breakthrough with captain Shaheen Afridi dismissing opposing captain Mohammad Rizwan in the opening over.

However, the Sultans staged a quick comeback with a brilliant 70-run partnership between Reeza Hendricks and Usman Khan before Sikandar Raza removed the former.

Hendricks contributed a 27-ball 40, featuring seven boundaries, including one six.

Khan continued his aggressive play and formed a dominant partnership with Tayyab Tahir, accumulating 77 runs in just 40 balls for the third wicket.

Tahir managed only 21 runs and was dismissed by Carlos Brathwaite with the scoreboard reading 151 in 15 overs.

Iftikhar Ahmed joined Khan and wreaked havoc with a scintillating unbeaten cameo of 40 runs from 18 balls, including two boundaries and three sixes.

Khan, on the other hand, scored 96 runs from 55 balls, adorned with 13 boundaries, including two sixes, falling short of a century as he got out in the final over.

Multan Sultans concluded their innings at 214-4 in their allotted 20 overs.

For Lahore Qalandars, Afridi led the bowling attack with figures of 2-39, while Raza and Brathwaite claimed one wicket each.