Pakistan, PSL 2019, Viv Richards
Quetta Gladiators are played under the guidance of Vivian Richards. Photo Credit: PSL.

Quetta Gladiators, first of the four teams to have qualified for the PSL 2017 finale, lost to Peshawar Zalmi in the summit clash by 58 runs and coach Sir Vivian Richards has blamed the last-minute pull-out of foreign players as the reason for the loss.

The PSL final took place in the city of Lahore, which was bombed twice in the past month, and players who opted to sit out had their reasons clear. Some agreed with them while many had their own points to contradict. Three of the Englishmen Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Tymal Mills had their way out fearing their life and career, as Wright – on social media- expressed his displeasure of not featuring in the final.

Along with them, South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera didn’t come to Pakistan to represent the Gladiators in final. Their replacements Bangladesh’s Anamul Haque, Sean Ervine of Zimbabwe, Morne van Wyk of South Africa and West Indies’ Rayad Emerit — all little known players compared to the first-choice campaigners, were asked to be a part of the side.

Talking to a private news channel, Richards commented on the same and said lack of practice made them suffer in the all-important clash. He also reserved his words on fixing that rocked the tournament mid-way.

“The new [foreign] players [who came in for the final] had not PRACTICED with us. The new money in the game of cricket has changed its dynamics. Match-fixing is not good [for the sport]. In our playing days, we didn’t even know what fixing means.”

Gautam Sodhi

I am more than just a cricket lover. I have been breathing this game since I was three, and now I am making a living out of it. Also, FC Barcelona happens to be my second love, and evidently, I prefer...