New Delhi: Pakistan Super League might conduct a mini replacement draft to cover for the overseas players who are unwilling to return for the resumption of the rournament on May 17.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday that its premier domestic T20 tournament would resume on May 17 and end on May 25 but didn’t unveil its full schedule.
The tournament had to be halted due to escalation of military tenions between Pakistan an India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir.
The PCB had explore the idea of relocating the tournament to the UAE but had to drop it as they didn’t get a favourbale response from the Gulf country.
Reports suggest almost all of the foreign players in the tournament left Pakistan hurriedly. Reports even suggested that Australian players narrowly avoided a missile attack.
Citing security risks, foreign players are now reportedly unwilling to return to play once the competition resumes on May 17, whoch ahs forced the PCB to think of a draft for teams to pick players.
“This is because of the problems the Board and the franchises, excluding Multan Sultans, are facing in convincing their overseas players to return for the remaining matches to wrap up the league this year,” a PSL franchise official told PTI.
Since Multan are already out of contention for the play-offs and have only one game left, not having their overseas players might be cost-effective for them.
“But for Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Islamabad and Peshawar who are in the running for the playoffs, their officials and the Board are in touch with the players’ agents to get them to return to Pakistan for the remaining matches,” he said.
“The other option is that the league regulations allow for teams to play without any foreign players or at the same time they can field a maximum of four overseas players,” he said.
Skipper David Warner is expected to return along with two other Australian players for Karachi Kings, reports said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Tuesday that its premier domestic T20 tournament would resume on May 17 and end on May 25 but didn’t unveil its full schedule. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
