PSL 2021: Peshawar Zalmi forced to field with 10 players for two overs

Although Peshawar Zalmi qualified to the finals of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) by beating Islamabad United, the match had a fair share of controversies too. The Zalmi won the match by fielding only ten players for two overs. Apparently, Mohammad Irfan suffered an injury while trying to stop the ball in the outfield and was out for about 20 minutes.

The medical staff immediately rushed to the ground to attend to the lanky pacer, who apparently didn’t move his leg. The medical team attended him outside the boundary but strangely, the Zalmi were not granted a substitute fielder. Aleem Dar, who was adjudicating as an umpire in the game, was not convinced by the nature of the injury and denied Zalmi skipper Wahab Riaz with a substitute fielder.

Irfan had actually missed a game against Islamabad last week due to an injury, which made fans and commentators speculate that he carried the injury to this game as well.

“They don’t believe him,” former Zimbabwe international Pommie Mbangwa said in the commentary box. “So what they’ve said is he’s bowled five deliveries with no trouble. And when he’s finished (his spell), he’s now saying ‘I can’t field, I’m injured.”

Zalmi finally got a substitute fielder after fielding for two overs with just ten players. After a lot of deliberation, the on-field umpires allowed Zalmi to have a substitute fielder. “The neutral doctor, apparently, has said yes, he is injured,” Bazid Khan told in the commentary box. “So they believe him now.”

Peshawar Zalmi will play their fourth final against first-timers Multan Sultans

Zalmi made it to the finals on the back of some brilliant batting display by Hazratullah Zazai (66) and Jonathan Wells’ unbeaten 55. The Afghanistan batter Zazai was particularly impressive as he was initially slow, to begin with, before capitalizing later by striking them big. He was well supported by Wells, who incidentally played his first PSL game. He replaced David Miller in the team who pulled out of the league due to his South Africa commitments.

Now, Zalmi are all set to feature in their fourth final against Multan Sultans, who will play their first. The marquee clash is set to take place on June 24.