For the remainder of the PSL 2021, which starts in Abu Dhabi in the first week of June, Multan Sultans have chosen West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer to replace Bangladesh batter Mahmudullah in the platinum category. Several starters are expected to miss the final 20 games of the season due to a variety of factors, including scheduling issues. On Saturday, the PCB held a mini replacement draught to allow teams to replace their absentees.
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan would rejoin the Lahore Qalandars. During last month’s replacement draught, the franchise signed Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan in his place. Shakib has withdrawn from the remainder of the season, but Lahore has declared that Rashid is once again open.
The six teams were also given the option of adding two more players to their initial rosters, plus at least one player from outside the United States, bringing the total number of players to 20. Originally, teams were required to have at least three overseas players in their XIs, but the PCB has limited this to two for each team due to the growing difficulties around the Covid-19 pandemic.
The draught is the third since the season began, which was postponed after 14 games due to a rash of Covid-19 incidents among players and support staff.
The Quetta Gladiators have chosen Afghanistan left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan to replace Australian allrounder Ben Cutting, while Lahore has chosen Singaporean batter Tim David to replace Australian batter Joe Burns, who plays for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL and has an overall T20 strike rate of 154.07.
Meanwhile, Hammad Azam, once regarded as a promising all-round prospect for Pakistan, has been reintroduced to the spotlight, with Multan selecting him as an additional silver choice.
Waseem Muhammad of the United Arab Emirates, who made a name for himself with his flaming knocks for the Northern Warriors in the Abu Dhabi T10, has found a spot in the Multan squad. His career highlight so far has been an unbeaten 13-ball 56 in the T10 against the Pune Devils, which helped the Warriors chase down 98 in just 4.3 overs. Sultan Ahmed, a left-arm spinner originally from Pakistan, was signed by the Qalandars as another UAE player.
Islamabad United selected Janneman Malan in place of Alex Hales in last month’s replacement draught. Now that Malan is also inaccessible, Islamabad has chosen to go without a replacement, citing a shortage of comparable alternatives.