PSL 2019: PCB add Ahmed Shehzad's name to the player draft pool

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given a leeway to the suspended cricketer Ahmed Shehzad by including him in the player draft pool for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL). He was earlier left out of the same as the verdict was yet to come on him failing the dope test after consuming the banned substance THC – a synthetic Cannabinoids. His suspension though is back-dated and will end on November 10.

Shehzad took Dronabinol – a medicine for refractory nausea and vomiting given to patients undergoing cancer treatment on May 3. On the same day, a surprise dope test was conducted and the concentration of 11-nor-Delta9-Tetra Hydro Cannabinol-9-Carboxylic acid (THC), listed as a prohibited substance by both WADA and the PCB, was found in his urine sample.

His addition in the player draft pool for the PSL comes as a welcome news for Shehzad whose career is in the doldrums currently. He will definitely be looking to make amends soon by playing in the league. “Shehzad’s name has now been added to the PSL pool of players. He is placed in the Gold category. Ahmed played for Multan Sultans last year and is currently placed on their roster. Multan can retain, trade or release him back into the Draft pool,” PCB said in a release on Thursday according to Cricbuzz.

Any room for Shehzad in the national side?

Ahmed Shahzad will also be looking to regain his place in the national side once he gets back to the grind in November. He last played for Pakistan in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi in October 2017 and it is almost a year now that he has been sidelined. With the likes of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq making a statement with consistent performances, it seems tough for him to break in the team.

Though his record looks good across the formats. The 26-year-old averages more than 40 n the 13 Tests he has played so far and his experience of 81 ODIs and 57 T20Is can’t be overlooked with the World Cup looming over. Shehzad should make his bat talk in order to make a comeback and it remains to be seen if the selectors consider his case.

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