PSL 9: Multan Sultans name Ihsanullah's replacement

Multan Sultans named a replacement for their premium pacer Ihsanullah for the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9 matches as the league enters its decisive phase.

Ali Majid Shah will replace Ihsanullah,who is recovering from an elbow injury after undergoing surgery in September 2023.

Remember, the 21-year-old has been bowling in nets but he has not been declared match fit by the team’s medical staff and thus, will not be available for the remainder of PSL 9.

Ihsanullah was the second highest-wicket taker of PSL 8 where the Multan speedster bagged 22 wickets in 13 matches.

Multan Sultans currently occupy the top position in the PSL 9 points table with eight points from five matches and a 0.78 net run rate (NRR). They are followed closely by Quetta Gladiators who are second with six points from four matches and 0.34 NRR.

Earlier, the Sultans ended Quetta's three-match win streak by handing them a 13-run defeat in the 11th match of PSL 9.

Mohammad Rizwan’s men successfully defended the 181-run target courtesy of their accuracy with the ball as the Gladiators’ batters failed to hurt their opponents.

Chasing the target, the Gladiators started slowly as they could only score 8 runs in the first two overs against Mohammad Ali and David Willey.

Jason Roy became Ali’s victim in the third over, Saud Shakeel followed him soon enough after losing his wicket to Willey in the sixth over, leaving his side 42-2.

After losing two wickets, skipper Rilee Rossouw and youngster Khawaja Nafay held their nerves and formed a 60-run partnership.

Gladiators had the command of the chase but Rossouw’s unexpected dismissal turned the tide in Sultans’ favour. The wickets kept falling and the visiting side could only score 167 runs in the allocated overs,

Batting first, the Sultans started with a blast as opener Usman Khan hit three boundaries to Akeal Hosein to end the first over with 14/0.

However, the right-handed batter was removed by mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the third over after scoring 14 runs.

Rizwan built a crucial 79-run partnership with Hendricks during which he also completed his half-century. The Sultans skipper then departed for the pavilion after contributing 51 runs on 42 balls courtesy of six boundaries.

After Rizwan’s dismissal, Quetta looked in complete control of the match as they had restricted Sultans to 122-2 in 16 overs.

However, Hendricks and Tahir changed the course of the game for the home side as both scored 58 runs combined in the last four overs to take their side to a competitive total.

Hendricks departed in the last over after scoring 72 runs on 47 balls while Tahir remained unbeaten for 35 off 22.