A few days ago, there was quite a bit of confusion around the remainder of the Pakistan Super League taking place in the United Arab Emirates. First, it came to light that the Pakistan Cricket Board couldn’t get some crucial approvals from the Abu Dhabi government.
However, in less than 24 hours, the PCB announced that it managed to get all the clearance required, and the remaining part of the sixth season in the PSL will be played in the UAE.
Now, a lot of things will need to be rejigged. The remainder of the tournament was scheduled to start on the 1st of June in Karachi, but with the remaining 20 matches not likely to start then, including the Qualifiers and the Final moved to the UAE, the schedule will certainly be tweaked once again.
Not only the schedule but the teams have also been shuffled around touch as well. There have been as many as 13 additions or replacements that were announced on Tuesday. This process took place through a virtual draft.
Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators were two teams that added or replaced the most number of players – four each. Lahore Qalandars picked up a couple of players in the draft, while Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings chose one player each.
Shimron Hetmyer has been picked by the Sultans, and he will make his PSL debut as the West Indies hard-hitting left-hander has been picked as a replacement player. His countrymate and opening batsman Johnson Charles joins him as a replacement player. Muhammad Waseem and Hammad Azam were added to thesquad as well.
The Gladiators picked up Jack Wildermuth and Jake Weatherald in the draft. The Australian duo have not played in any of the T20 leagues apart from the Big Bash League, but both cricketers have a decent amount of experience as they have been around the T20 scene for the last 5-6 years. The Gladiators also added Afghanistan chinaman bowler Zahir Khan alongside veteran batsman Khurram Shehzad.
Lahore Qalandars added UAE left-arm spinner Sultan Ahmed and Singapore all-rounder Tim David. The latter has featured in the Big Bash League in Australia as well and has played for Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, Islamabad United chose middle-order batsman Mohammad Akhlaq. Peshawar Zalmi added wicket-keeper batsman Bismillah Khan. Opening batsman Mohammad Haris Khan was picked up by Karachi Kings to complete the draft.
These 13 players were added or replaced after the decision that was taken that the teams will be allowed to have 20 members in their squad. Three teams – Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Lahore Qalandars, have not yet picked their 20th player.
Moreover, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi is all set to host the remainder of season six of the PSL. The PCB is planning to resume the tournament on the 5th of June and have a 10-day quarantine period before any of the players can their respective start training.
