The HBL PSL 9 has created a real buzz. However, in Lahore not that much of a thick crowd was seen during the last few days. Yes, in Multan a big crowd was seen, backing its home team Multan Sultans who had won three matches on the trot and were looking in fine form when this article was written.

Multan, also former champions, are a cohesive unit. Led by Mohammad Rizwan they don’t have big names in their squad but the resources they have are in real form and have been delivering their jobs with great accuracy.

Their pacemen Mohammad Ali and Abbas Afridi have been terrific with the leather so far. Ali, who played two Tests against England in 2022 in Pakistan, bowled with top discipline during the first three games. He was seen hitting a perfect deck, just off-side the off-stump and he is gaining benefit.

In batting, Rizwan is leading from the front. After failing in their opener against Karachi Kings he did well in the next two games, especially the way he scored 82 against Lahore Qalandars was terrific Wednesday night.

South African Reeza Hedricks has scored two fifties for Sultans and has been a key player for Multan.

Iftikhar also showed his fireworks, winning a difficult game against Lahore Qalandars with a blistering 11-ball 34 not out on Wednesday.

The wicket in Multan is full of turn and seam. It’s important for Multan to keep the consistency at home as more wins at home will put them in a commanding position.

Qalandars have so far been unimpressive, having lost all their initial three games, two at home and one against Multan Sultans at the latter’s backyard on Wednesday.

Lahore Qalandars’ pace battery, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf Rauf and Zaman Khan, has been unimpressive,

With Shaheen showing a little bit of resolve, the other two have been seen struggling. They need to be disciplined if they are to achieve good results for Lahore, the defending champions.

Sahibzada Farhan, Rassie van Der Dussen and Fakhar Zaman have been positive with the bat with Farhan scoring two fifties in three games while opening the innings with Fakhar. Farhan was part of Pakistan’s squad in the New Zealand tour where Pakistan lost the five-match T20I series 4-1.

Lahore Qalandars are hugely missing their key spinner Rashid Khan of Afghanistan who used to bowl superb middle overs. He played a key role in Qalandars back-to-back titles. Rashid missed the event due to his lower back surgery.

Quetta Gladiators have been good this season, having won the initial three matches on the trot.

Gladiators vice-captain Saud Shakeel is in fine form and Jason Roy has also done well but he needs to play a leading role being the most experienced batsman.

Sarfaraz, who was removed as skipper on the day of unveiling the trophy, replaced by Rilee Rossouw, has been off-colour with the bat. Skipper Rilee Rossouw, who failed in the first two games, found some form when he scored 34 not out against Islamabad United which helped his side reach their third straight victory.

In bowling, seasoned Mohmmad Amir has been prolific and so is spinner Abrar Ahmed who is such a tricky bowler.

Mohammad Waseem Junior and Mohammad Hasnain are the others who make Gladiators pace-battery the most formidable.

Pesahwar Zalmi have lost both their games. It seems that they only rely on skipper Babar Azam, who has hit two back-to-back fifties and has become the fastest batsman to reach 10,000 runs in T20 cricket. He has achieved this milestone in 271 innings. Saim Ayub looks good but Mohammad Haris, who Babar Azam rated as a developed batsman, has been unimpressive with the bat. I will suggest to Haris that T20 cricket is not about hitting every ball over the fielders’ heads. It is a game of nerves and you will have to understand how to play as per demand. Tom-Kohler Cadmore will also need to support Babar who is seen as a lone fighter in Zalmi.

With Zeeshan, Luke Wood and Salman Irshad bearing the bowling burden Zalmi are missing a spin-link which is denting their performance.

Being skippered by Shadab Khan, Islamabad United also have been unable so far to impress as a unit. They have won just one game of three they have played so far.

Beating Lahore and playing a tough game against Multan at the latter’s backyard, Islamabad United batting failed to deliver and were folded for only 138 by Quetta Gladiators at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday night.

United then put Quetta under pressure as they took wickets at regular intervals but failed to defend the total and Quetta romped to their third straight victory by winning the game by three wickets.

United’s opener Colin Munro and Alex Hales, although, gave a platform to United, it was not capitalised by the batting to come but being experienced campaigners at least one of them will need to play a sheet anchor role and will have to go deep. Agha Salman and Shadab are doing a somewhat fine job with the willow but that too in patches. Azam Khan has been a big failure so far and will need to raise his standard.

Naseem Shah leads United’s pace battery, also having Rumman Raees and his brothers Ubaid Shah and Hunain Shah who are being given chances one after the other.

Naseem, who has returned from shoulder injury, looks in fine rhythm and it is expected that he will play a leading role in his team’s PSL 9 journey.

After losing their opener by 55 runs against Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings made a strong comeback when they downed Peshawar Zalmi in their second game by seven wickets. Kings have been restructured. They inducted some youngsters in the side. Kings mostly depend on Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard and James Vince who have shown spark with the bat with skipper Shan Masood needing to respond well up the order in order to provide a better platform.

Kings bowling has been so far fairly good and the good thing is that besides left-armer Mir Hamza, who has been all impressive, ace bower Hasan Ali has caught rhythm and bowled extremely well against Peshawar Zalmi in their second game.

The South African left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi is a big plus with Kings besides Australian left-armer Daniel Sams who has been fairly good so far.

After February 27 the action will move to Karachi and Rawalpindi. Pindi surfaces normally are batting friendly while in Karachi teams may face unpredictable conditions.

Players in almost every camp are excited to put in their best and make a place in Pakistan’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup which is going to be hosted by the United States and the West Indies in June.

Fan engagement is a big issue. And the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi will need to take the PSL matches to small cities in future where huge crowds could be attracted. For the last so many years, mostly cricket has been held in Lahore and Karachi with Pindi acting as the third major centre. Multan’s introduction is good as one can see a big crowd.

Hopefully next year Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar, will act as a home venue for Peshawar Zalmi and if it happens it will be a major boost to the PSL. Quetta also should be declared a PSL venue for the next season. In big cities people are tired of too much cricket and it’s always difficult to attract the crowd.

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