Quetta Gladiators announce foreign players for PSL final
The Quetta Gladiators have officially announced the names of foreign players that will be filling in for the much-anticipated Pakistan Super league (PSL) final against Peshawar Zalmi.
According to the team’s media manager, these players include Anamul Haque from Bangladesh, Sean Ervine and Elton Chigumbura from Zimbabwe, Morne Van Wik from South Africa and Rayad Emerit from West Indies.
Additionally, Aizaz Cheema from Pakistan has been added to the Quetta Gladiators squad to replace Umar Gul.
The Gladiators' Sarfaraz Ahmad, Asad Shafeeq, Hassaan Khan, Noor Ali and Mir Hamza have already reached Lahore.
"All eyes are on the new young players for tomorrow's final. The country wants to see our young talent shine," Sarfaraz Ahmad, who captains the team, told DawnNews during their Saturday practice session.
The final match-up between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi is scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, March 5.
The Gladiators had qualified for the final after handing a solid defeat to Zalmi during the first playoff of the PSL's knockout stage.
In that match, the team’s squad had consisted of England’s Luke Wright, Kevin Peterson and Tymal Mills.
After qualifying, all three had announced on Thursday that they will not be playing the final in Lahore.
“It's with a heavy heart I will not be coming to Lahore. I have a young family, and for me, a game of cricket is just not worth the risk,” Luke Wright said in a tweet.
Kevin Peterson announced on Twitter that he’s going back to London to spend time with his family.
Tymal Mills said that while he will not be taking part in the final, he will be following the game from home.
South Africa's Rilee Roussouw, who had at one point considered going to Lahore for the final, later said he would not be coming. "It's with a sad heart that I must announce that I will not be taking part in the final," he had written in a Twitter post.
Read more: Peshawar Zalmi thrash Karachi Kings, qualify for Lahore final