Multan Sultans all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been ruled out of the Abu Dhabi leg of the Pakistan Super League’s sixth edition. The 41-year-old would be replaced by veteran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s left-arm-spinner Asif Afridi.
“While training for the remainder of the HBL Pakistan Super League 6, I felt lower back pain and had to consult a doctor. Unfortunately, I have been advised to rest and can no longer accompany my team Multan Sultans for the Abu Dhabi leg,” Afridi was quoted as saying in a press release by PSL.
“I am disappointed that I would be sitting out of the tournament, but my best wishes, support and prayers are with the team to take the trophy,” the legendary Pakistan all-rounder added.
Asif has been in a prolific form in his recent appearances in professional cricket. In fact, he was the main reason why Khyber Pakhtunkhwa went on to clinch the Pakistan Cup, Pakistan's premier List A tournament for 2020-21. The 34-year old took 25 wickets in 12 games and was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
The sixth PSL, which was going to fully hosted in Pakistan for the first time ever, was postponed in March this year due to rising cases of Covid-19 in the Bio-Bubble. The tournament has now been marked to begin June 5 after its initial rescheduling from June 1 had to change as the venue was once again changed from Pakistan’s National Stadium in Karachi to UAE’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Each team has to have 20 players in the squad and to fulfil the criterion, Islamabad United signed Pakistanleft-handed batsman Umar Amin and West Indies opener Brandon King. To do the same, Peshawar Zalmi added Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai. Two other Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s pliers in Sameen Gul and Khalid Usman were added to the squad as reserve players.