Pakistan Super League franchise Multan Sultans, on Monday received a massive blow as veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi has been ruled out of the remaining sixth season of the Pakistan Super League.
If we go by reports of PSL official website, Shahid Afridi was training in Karachi for the upcoming PSL 6 matches when he experienced pain in his lower back following which he was examined by a doctor who has advised him not to play PSL and take complete rest.
Shahid, who appeared in the four Karachi-leg matches, has been replaced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s left-arm-spinner Asif Afridi who would be joining the Sultans squad in Abu Dhabi.
The Multan Sultan all-rounder Shahid Afridi on being ruled out ahead of the second league of PSL 6 expressed his disappointment and said:
“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. 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.”
Shahid Afridi’s team, the Multan Sultans, did not have a great outing in the first phase of PSL 2021. The Sultans currently hold the penultimate spot in the points table, with only one win from five games. Afridi played four games for Multan this season, scoring three runs and taking two wickets.
Also, Islamabad United have signed left-handed batsman Umar Amin and West Indies opener Brandon King, thus completing their 20-player squad. Peshawar Zalmi have added Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Sameen Gul and Khalid Usman as reserve players in their squad.
The PCB is yet to announce the schedule for the remaining 20 PSL games, but the tournament is expected to be completed before the Pakistan team departs for England on June 23. The board is planning to start the PSL-6 in Abu Dhabi from June 5 and all the participating players will undergo a 10-day quarantine period before they start training.
