Andre Russell and Shakib Al Hasan are amongst the big names to have been signed up as replacements for the remainder of PSL 2021, the PCB confirmed on Tuesday (April 27). All six franchises picked overseas replacement players via an online process with the tournament all set to resume from June 1.
Andre Russell, who is one of the most sought-after T20 players, will replace Tom Banton in the Quetta Gladiators squad whereas spin all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will join Lahore Qalandars as Rashid Khan’s replacement. New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was picked up by Karachi Kings to replace South African batsman Colin Ingram.
Andre Russell And Shakib Al Hasan Are Currently Playing For KKR In IPL 2021
One of the signings on the list was that of dashing Jamaican batting all-rounder Andre Russell, who was picked up by Quetta Gladiators. He has previously featured in the league for Islamabad United in the 2016 and 2018 editions.
He is currently playing in the IPL 2021, representing Kolkata Knight Riders. His KKR teammate, Shakib Al Hasan was picked up by Lahore Qalandars. Andre Russell has scored 118 runs and taken 7 scalps playing 6 games while Shakib Al Hasan has played 3 games taking 2 scalps and scoring 38 runs in IPL 2021.
Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns, James Faulkner, And Callum Ferguson Among 19 Replacement Players
Australian quartet Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson were among the 19 players picked up as replacements. Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, and Islamabad United have reserved one pick each and will be submitting the names later.
The three teams can choose silver category players closer to or during the remainder of the tournament.
In the Diamond category, Kings nominated Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera and Afghanistan batter Najeebullah Zadran. South Africa batter Janneman Malan was nominated by United. Zalmi opted for West Indian all-rounder Fabian Allen while Qalandars opted for Australian quick James Faulkner.
In the Gold category, Qalandars nominated Australia’s Joe Burns, West Indian Rovman Powell was nominated by Zalmi and Multan Sultans submitted the name of Afghanistan’s keeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Windies pacer Fidel Edwards was nominated by Zalmi in the Silver round replacements followed by South Africa’s George Linde by Sultans, Litton Das by Kings, and Australian batter Callum Ferguson by Qalandars.
Obed McCoy and Seekkugge Prasanna were nominated by Sultans and Lahore Qalandars respectively in the supplementary round picks. Meanwhile, the teams would need to field a minimum of two and a maximum of four foreign players in their playing elevens for the June leg of the HBL PSL 6.
Earlier this year in March, the tournament was postponed after 14 matches as a result of an increase in the number of Covid-19 positive cases. The remaining 20 matches will now resume from June 1 at the National Stadium in Karachi. Only 14 games were completed in the 34-match tournament.
Three players including Fawad Ahmed and Tom Banton tested positive besides breach of the bio-bubble by Peshawar Zalmi’s Wahab Riaz and Daren Sammy saw PSL 2021 be postponed.
PSL 2021 overseas replacements
Islamabad United: Usman Khawaja replaces Alex Hales, Janneman Malan replaces Lewis Gregory.
Karachi Kings: Martin Guptill replaces Colin Ingram, Thisara Perera replaces Mohammad Nabi, Najeebullah Zadran replaces Dan Christian, Litton Das replaces Joe Clarke
Lahore Qalandars: Shakib-Al-Hasan replaces Rashid Khan, James Faulkner replaces David Wiese, Joe Burns replaces Samit Patel, Callum Ferguson replaces Tom Abell, Seekuge Prasanna replaces Joe Denly
Multan Sultans: Mahmudullah Riyad replaces Chris Lynn, Rahmanullah Gurbaz replaces James Vince, George Linde replaces Adam Lyth, Obed McCoy replaces Carlos Brathwaite
Peshawar Zalmi: Fabian Allen replaces Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Rovman Powell replaces Liam Livingstone, Fidel Edwards replaces Saqib Mahmood
Quetta Gladiators:Andre Russell replaces Tom Banton