Lasith Malinga, Albie Morkel signup for PSL 2017

In another couple of major signups in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga and South African all-rounder Albie Morkel have both been contracted to take part in the upcoming second season of the PSL.

While Morkel has been signed for the first time in the league, Malinga had to withdraw from last year’s Player Draft due to an injury. The most successful bowler in the shortest format of the game Slinga Malinga has 299 wickets to his credit in 221 T20 matches.

Earlier this year Malinga had missed the Sri Lankan team’s campaign in the Asia Cup T20, the World T20 2016 in India and was also replaced by Mumbai Indians because of his unavailability during the Indian Premier League (IPL) season 9 due the knee injury.

Albie Morkel has always been an asset for his teams at least in the shortest format. The all-rounder is not just a wicket-taking option with the ball but is also known for his use of the long handle. He has on several occasions in leagues around the world and for South Africa proved himself with both bat and ball. Morkel has an exciting T20 record with 3,767 runs and 230 wickets in 287 Twent20 matches.

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The PSL player retention window is currently open. It gives the franchisees the option of retaining up to 16 players from their existing squads. During this period the teams can also renegotiate their terms with the existing players. The franchises can also trade the players under the transfer window.

Earlier Former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum and England skipper Eoin Morgan had also agreed to be a part of the second edition of the PSL.

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PLS chairman Najam Sethi stated, “It was decided that the teams may retain up to 16 players from their existing squads,” the press release read. “All players who were brought on board by a team, regardless of whether they played, are eligible for retention. The retention window will also provide teams with a chance to renegotiate with existing players and the window closes on September 14, 2016. The transfer window is concurrently open with teams in a position to leverage their draft picks and/or existing squads to find an ideal balance.”