PSL 2021: Andre Russell and Shakib Al Hasan among 19 players to be signed as replacements

After being indefinitely postponed in March, Pakistan Super League 2021 is all set to resume again in the month of June. After only 14 matches in the league, the tournament had to be postponed after there was a breach in the biosecure bubble which led to players testing positive. The rest of the matches of the tournament will be played between June 1 and 20. 

On Tuesday, an official list was announced in which all the replacement players chosen by each of the team was revealed. It has been reported that some of the players who were originally in the team squad when the PSL began in February, might not come back to finish the season. Hence, all six teams were allowed to pick some players in their squads as replacements. 

One of the signings on the list was that of Andre Russell, who was picked up by Quetta Gladiators. He has previously featured in the league for Islamabad United in the 2016 and 2018 editions. He is currently in the IPL 2021, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. His KKR teammate, Shakib Al Hasan was picked up by Lahore Qalandars.

The Qalandars also bought the services of the Aussie trio of James Faulkner, Joe Burns, Callum Ferguson, and Sri Lankan all-rounder, Seekkuge Prasanna. 

Young talents George Linde, Liton Das and Rahmanullah Gurbaz get teams

Only one other Sri Lankan was found on the list, Thisara Perera, who was picked up by Karachi Kings. The defending champions also got Martin Guptill, Liton Das, and Najibullah Zadran. Multan Sultans got Mahmudullah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Obed McCoy and George Linde. Peshawar Zalmi picked up the trio of West Indians, Fabian Allen, Rovman Powell, and Fidel Edwards. 

Earlier in the day, Islamabad United announced Colin Munro, who had missed the first phase of the PSL 2021, will be available for the second phase in June. The two-time champions United further signed up Usman Khawaja and Jannenman Malan to boost their top-order batting. 

As the PSL commences in June, there are a host of players from England who might not be a part of the competition. The players from the international team will be busy with the English summer. Some of the county players could also be seen choosing their club teams ahead of the PSL contracts. 

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