PSL 2026: Steven Smith is off to a confident start in his debut season in the Pakistan Super League, turning out for the Multan Sultans. The experienced batter has already made his presence felt, scoring 144 runs across five innings, including a well-crafted fifty.
He’s part of a strong Australian group in the squad, alongside captain Ashton Turner, veteran quick Peter Siddle, and wicketkeeper-batters Josh Philippe and Lachlan Shaw.
Multan Sultans Go Top After Clinical Run Chase
The Sultans continued their fine run on Monday with a convincing seven-wicket win over Rawalpindi, a result that pushed them to the top of the PSL 2026 standings. Chasing 183, they were powered by a fluent 68 off 38 from Sahibzada Farhan, while Philippe chipped in with a brisk 56 off 30 to seal the deal.
‘Chacha’ Nickname Adds Fun to the Dressing Room
There was also a lighter moment after the match when Smith spoke to broadcasters and introduced Siddle as ‘Chacha’. The nickname seems to have stuck, with Siddle playfully calling himself ‘Foreign Chacha’ and Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed as ‘Local Chacha’.
Interestingly, the nickname is said to have been given to Siddle by Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf during their time together in the Big Bash League.
Watch the video:
Steve Smith is calling Peter Siddle
“CHACHA”.pic.twitter.com/hsbrtx9oX8— Pakistan Cricket Team USA FC (@DoctorofCricket) April 5, 2026
Steven Smith Enjoying Opening Role with Sahibzada Farhan
Smith has been particularly pleased with how things are shaping up at the top of the order, especially his growing partnership with Farhan.
“My combination with Farhan has become quite strong. Our starts have been good. Farhan is a quality player. The top-order batting with Farhan is going well. It’s good to see the partnership with him,” he said after Sultans’ win over Quetta Gladiators on Sunday.
“The spin bowling was very good. First, Nawaz bowled well, and then Arafat produced an extraordinary spell. Our captain also bowled well. The opposition could have scored over 160 runs, but we managed to restrict them and then chased the target well,” he added.
Peter Siddle Backs Steven Smith’s Form
Siddle, who has shared the field with Smith for years, also praised his former captain’s performance and consistency.
“Steve Smith played another brilliant innings; he never disappoints. It was great to see the partnership with Farhan,” he said.
Small Blip for Steven Smith Ahead of Next Clash
Not every outing has gone Smith’s way, though. In the match against Rawalpindi, he had a rare quiet game, scoring just five runs off five balls.
Still, with four wins in five matches, Multan Sultans are in a strong position. They now head into a short break before returning to action against Peshawar Zalmi, aiming to keep their momentum going.
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