Multan Sultans reveal new captain for PSL 2026 [Source: X]With the PSL 2026 season less than three weeks away, Multan Sultans, one of the franchises from the league, has announced its captain for the upcoming campaign as the team aims to capture the trophy once again. Unlike other teams that are going for homegrown talents as the skipper for PSL 2026, the Sultans have opted for a different path.Australia’s right-handed batter, Ashton Turner, has been appointed the new captain, and he replaces Mohammad Rizwan, who led the side in previous editions. Rizwan led the team in 58 matches, and won 33 games, and is currently the third most successful captain in PSL history.With Rizwan leaving Sultans and joining Pindiz, the new PSL franchise, his former side needed a new skipper, and they have gone in with Turner, who is also the leader of the BBL team, Perth Scorchers.The franchise confirmed the appointment on their official social media handles, highlighting the signing of the five-time Big Bash League (BBL) champion.Why Sultans have gone in with TurnerA proven match-winner for his domestic team and BBL side Perth Scorchers, Turner is a seasoned veteran who has done extremely well as the captain of the Scorchers. Recently, he led the franchises to their sixth BBL title, and also became the first player to captain the side to three titles (BBL 11, 12, and 15).Also, Turner has secured five BBL titles, two as a player, and three as the captain, making him one of the most successful player in the tournament’s history. Known as a calm leader, Turner’s leadership style is appreciated in Australia, and the same style could take Sultans to the top once again.Also Read: Multan Sultans sold for record PKR 245 crore; Walee Technologies buy ex-PSL championsTurner's T20 journey so farAn experienced campaigner, Turner has played across various franchise leagues in the world and has an exceptional record in T20s. In 242 T20 matches, the right-handed batter has amassed 4103 runs.Moreover, he has scored runs at a strike-rate of 142, and is someone who can play as an opener, and can also bat anywhere in the top four.He has also represented Australia in 19 T20I matches, but his international career has been underwhelming, as the batter has only scored 110 runs. Interestingly, he has also played for the Multan Sultans in the past, and thus, this is not the first time he will play in the PSL.Controversy surrounding Multan Sultans ahead of PSL 2026With the PSL season yet to commence, Multan Sultans have already come under scrutiny. The team was formally known as Sialkot Stallionz, but on March 3, they were rebranded to Multan Sultans after CD Ventures took over the franchise.CD Ventures acquired a majority stake in the franchise, as the original owners, OZ Developers, left the team after controversies related to their ownership, and thus, when the new owners came in, they decided to name it, Multan Sultans.Multan Sultans squad for PSL 2026Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Steve Smith, Jahanzaib Sultan, Sahibzada Farhan, Ashton Turner (c), Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Phillippe, Shan Masood, Momin Qamar and Muhammad Awais Zafar.Also Read: Samson In ICC XI, SL Coach And Babar’s Snub Explained- March 9 Cricket Highlights
