The Pakistan Tremendous League (PSL) is ready to lose a lot of its star energy because of the battle with Afghanistan. Forward of PSL 2026, outstanding Afghan cricketers have withdrawn from the primary Gamers’ Public sale held forward of the eleventh version.
Days earlier than PSL 2026 and the participant public sale, it was speculated that Afghans won’t participate within the match, primarily because of the rising diplomatic tensions between the 2 nations. Nonetheless, there may be another excuse why gamers determined to keep away from auctions.
Why will Afghan gamers keep away from PSL 2026?
In response to media stories, gamers corresponding to Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Seddiqullah Attal, Muhammad Nabi, Waqar Salamkheil and Fazal Haq Farooqi had registered for the public sale held in Lahore on Wednesday. All of them subsequently withdrew their names from the occasion.
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Along with political conflicts, the signing of Rahmanullah Gurbaz can also be seen as the principle purpose for the dissatisfaction of Afghan cricketers.
Gurbaz has performed in three PSL seasons to this point. He performed for Multan Sultans in 2021 and Islamabad United in 2022 and 2023. In 15 matches, the highest batsman scored 318 runs, together with a half-century, at a strike fee of 159.79.
Zalmi indicators Gulbaz early
Afghanistan opening pitcher Rahmanullah Gurbaz has signed with PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi. The group simply secured the contract for the batter, however the different Afghan gamers on the public sale checklist obtained no response from the group. Later, as tensions escalated, Gurbaz additionally withdrew from the group.
“Gamers together with Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Seddiqullah Atul, Muhammad Nabi, Waqar Salamkheil and Fazal Haq Farooqi have registered for the public sale in Lahore on Wednesday,” the Instances of India reported, information company PTI reported. Nonetheless, the gamers later withdrew their names following backlash over Peshawar Zalmi instantly signing Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz. ”
The CEO of Pakistan Tremendous League has issued an official affirmation concerning the matter.
PSL CEO Salman Nasir confirmed the most recent info and mentioned political disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan can also have compelled the cricketers to withdraw their names. He mentioned that few Afghan cricketers are collaborating within the public sale however are at present excluded from the competition.
“As a result of rift in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, there was intense backlash after Zalmi signed Gurbaz and after Gulbaz withdrew from the PSL. So we determined it will be higher for the opposite gamers to keep away from the backlash as nicely,” Salman Nasir defined the scenario.
Relations between the 2 nations have been strained since late final 12 months attributable to airstrikes by the Pakistan Air Power. A number of star Afghan cricketers, together with Rashid Khan, protested the incident in robust phrases. The airstrike reportedly claimed the lives of a number of civilians, together with an area Afghan cricketer. After the incident, relations between the 2 nations started to deteriorate quickly.
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