In a flurry of last-minute adjustments, several PSL franchises have tinkered with their squads ahead of the highly anticipated ninth edition of the tournament. Notable among these changes is the inclusion of Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani, formerly with Multan Sultans, who stepped in for Jamie Overton via a replacement draft, as the English pacer is set to be unavailable for the entirety of PSL 9.
Other significant alterations made by the franchises include Karachi Kings’ decision to bring in Fawad Ali as a replacement for Tim Seifert, albeit on a partial basis. Lahore Qalandars, on the other hand, opted for Lorcan Tucker and Salman Fayyaz to fill the void left by Dan Lawrence and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, respectively, also on partial terms.
Quetta Gladiators made a calculated move by reserving Usman Tariq and bringing in Umar Amin to replace Wanindu Hasaranga, partially beefing up their squad. Meanwhile, Multan Sultans introduced Olly Stone in place of Reece Topley, adding depth to their bowling lineup on a partial basis.
Peshawar Zalmi, aiming for a comprehensive overhaul, enlisted Paul Walter to take over from Sufyan Muqeem, signaling a full-scale substitution in their roster.
As the PSL commenced with its inaugural match between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, Lahore set a formidable target of 195 runs, with Rassie van der Dussen and Sahibzada Farhan showcasing their batting prowess with impressive half-centuries. Islamabad, currently in the chase, faces a daunting task as they strive to match Lahore’s formidable total and kickstart their campaign on a winning note.
