LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars opted for premier Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan while Karachi Kings brought in belligerent New Zealand opener Martin Guptill as HBL Pakistan Super League franchises on Tuesday night announced replacements of their foreign players for the remaining games of PSL-2021 scheduled to be held in Karachi in June.

Lahore Qalandars are the most hit franchise of the HBL PSL-6 as their five foreign players, who were part of the team for the first 14 matches, are not available for the remaining 20 matches of the league starting on June 1.

Only dashing Australian batsman Ben Dunk, 34, will continue to play his role for Qalandars.

After 14 matches, this year’s PSL-6 was postponed by the PCB on March 4 as seven positive Covid-19 cases were reported during the Karachi leg of the event.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), a ceremony for the replacements of the players for remaining matches was held online on Tuesday night.

According to the details, while Qalandars made five replacements, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans brought in four replacements each. Peshawar Zalmi (three), Islamabad United (two) and Quetta Gladiators (1) also announced replacements.

Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United are two franchises, which three players each,will continue to represent their teams.

According to the PCB press release: “Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan, New Zealand opener Martin Guptill and one of the most sought after T20 players in the world West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell are set to feature in the remaining matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League 6 for Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators respectively, as their names were submitted as replacement picks in an online session held with the franchise representatives on Tuesday evening.

“Australian top-order batter Usman Khawaja [Islamabad United] and Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad [Quetta Gladiators] were the other picks in the first round of the replacement pick process.

The remaining 20 matches of the sixth edition of one of the most sought after T20 leagues in the world will be played at the National Stadium from June 1-20.

“The teams submitted a total of 19 picks. Peshawar Zalmi, Gladiators and United opted to reserve one pick each and will be submitting these names at a later stage. The three teams can choose silver category players closer to or during the remainder of the tournament,” the press release added.

“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.

“West Indies 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,” it further said.

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.

HBL PSL 6 foreign players’ 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 Fergusson replaces Tom Abell, Seekuge Prasana 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.

Players who took part in the first 14 matches (or the ones who were part of a franchise squad and were to join their squads later) and are at present fully or partially available to their respective franchises:

Islamabad United: Colin Munro, Fawad Ahmed, Ali Khan

Karachi Kings: Chadwick Walton, Noor Ahmed

Lahore Qalandars: Ben Dunk

Multan Sultans: Rilee Rossouw, Imran Tahir (partially available)

Peshawar Zalmi: Sherfane Rutherford, David Miller (partially available)

Quetta Gladiators: Cameron Delport, Qais Ahmed, Faf du Plessis

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2021