The "New Era" of the HBL Pakistan Super League hits a fever pitch live on [[/channel/willow-sports-live-cricket-tv/:Willow by Cricbuzz]] via TrillerTV as the Multan Sultans take on the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars. In this high-stakes Friday night clash at the Gaddafi Stadium, the Sultans aim to break the Qalandars' clinical home-streak in what has become one of the league's most tactical rivalries. The 2026 season has introduced a massive expansion to eight teams and a revised schedule due to national energy conservation measures. While the Sultans were originally set to host this match in Multan, the PCB has centralized the first leg of the tournament in Lahore. This match features a fascinating leadership duel: the world's premier left-arm pacer [[/fighter/shaheen-shah-afridi/36654/:Shaheen Shah Afridi]] leading Lahore against the calculated Australian brilliance of Ashton Turner, who took over the Sultans' captaincy following Mohammad Rizwan's move to the new Rawalpindiz franchise. Led by [[/fighter/shaheen-shah-afridi/36654/:Shaheen Shah Afridi]], the Qalandars' strategy remains the most feared in the league: early wickets through raw pace. With the addition of [[/fighter/mustafizur-rahman-the-fizz/40379/:Mustafizur Rahman]] to a battery that already includes Haris Rauf and Ubaid Shah, Lahore's bowling is designed to dismantle top orders within the Powerplay. Their batting relies on the explosive Fakhar Zaman and the all-round tactical genius of [[/fighter/sikandar-raza/40368/:Sikandar Raza]] to navigate the middle overs. Following a majority takeover by CD Ventures, the Sultans have rebranded their identity around Australian tactical discipline. Led by Ashton Turner and coached by Tim Paine, Multan has built a squad focused on professional execution. The headline signing of Steve Smith (PKR 14 crore) provides an elite anchor, while [[/fighter/mohammad-nawaz/40506/:Mohammad Nawaz]] and [[/fighter/sahibzada-farhan/40446/:Sahibzada Farhan]] add local depth. Their strategy centers on taking the game deep and utilizing the spin of [[/fighter/tabraiz-shamsi/40735/:Tabraiz Shamsi]] to choke the opposition in the middle overs. Key Player Matchups to Watch • [[/fighter/shaheen-shah-afridi/36654/:Shaheen Shah Afridi]] vs Steve Smith: The ultimate contest of skill. Shaheen's lethal first-over swing against the technical mastery and unorthodox triggers of Smith. This matchup will likely define the Sultans' Powerplay. • Fakhar Zaman vs Peter Siddle: Lahore's aggressive opener against the relentless accuracy and veteran guile of Siddle. • Ashton Turner vs Haris Rauf: The Sultans' skipper, known for his late-innings finishing, against the high-velocity death-over yorkers of Rauf.