List Of Players Who Have Left PSL So Far Due To Coronavirus

The ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) has suffered a big blow in its final stages as a number of overseas cricketers, including a large contingent of English players, have decided to return home in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The players would not take any further part in the competition.

A total of ten players so far have decided to leave the PSL. Peshawar Zalmi have been worst hit due to the recent departures. They have lost as many as five overseas players as well as coach James Foster. On the other hand, Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans have seen the departures of two players each while Karachi Kings have lost one player. No player from Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars has left PSL so far. Islamabad, however, could lose the services of Dawid Malan soon.

Here is a list of team-wise players who have left the PSL:

Karachi Kings: Alex Hales

Multan Sultans: Rilee Rossouw and James Vince

Peshawar Zalmi: Tom Banton, Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Dawson, James Foster (coach), Lewis Gregory and Liam Livingstone

Quetta Gladiators: Jason Roy and Tymal Mills

The way the situation is unfolding at the moment, it is highly likely that more and more overseas players will leave the tournament prematurely. But the PCB has confirmed that the league would go ahead although the matches will be played behind closed doors. The cricket board has also given all local and overseas players and support staff members the option to pull out.

“Today, the PCB and the team owners, as part of their duty of care, have decided to give all the players the option to decide if they wish to return home,” the PCB said in a statement.

“Ensuring that the players feel comfortable remains paramount to the PCB. As of now, it is important to emphasise and clarify that the main concern of many of the 10 players and a coach, who have chosen to return home, revolves around avoiding a potential situation where they might become stranded either due to flight cancellations or border closures in their own countries,” the statement added.

The PCB also said that it had carried out medical tests, and that no player has tested positive for the virus.

Also Read: PCB Cut Short PSL 2020, New Format In Place As Overseas Players Leave Over Coronavirus