PSL 2022: Multan Sultans and two other teams announce partial replacements

The defending champions Multan Sultans and Islamabad United have started their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 campaign on a winning note and currently occupy the top two spots in the points table.  While the Sultans registered an emphatic seven-wicket win over Karachi Kings in the tournament opener on Thursday, the United kicked off their campaign with a dominating nine-wicket win over Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday.

Even though both teams have added first points in this season, they find themselves in a spot of bother and the reason behind this is the unavailability of their key players for which the two teams had no choice but to announce partial replacements. While Islamabad United and the Quetta Gladiators only have to make a temporary replacement each, the title-holders have found themselves in a fix as they need to find three options.

PSL 2022: Teams set to make partial replacements

As per reports in Cricket Pakistan, the Quetta Gladiators have announced a partial replacement for veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi who is expected to miss the initial games due to COVID-19. Left-arm orthodox Hassan Khan has partially replaced the former Pakistan skipper. Meanwhile, Islamabad United on the other hand have temporarily replaced left-arm medium-pacer Waqas Maqsood in place of the English pacer Reece Topley. Topley had withdrawn from the PSL 2022 to be a part of the England T20I squad that is currently playing a five-match series in the West Indies.

Multan Sultans on the other hand have also sought temporary replacements for their foreign trio of Roman Powell, Odean Smith, and Dominic Drakes after they were selected to be a part of the West Indies squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against India starting February 6. Since three of their overseas players had to leave the squad due to national duty, the reigning champions have requested for replacement options instantly. As of now, it is yet to be revealed which three players would be replacing the Caribbean trio.

The Sultans would be hoping to solve this puzzle at the earliest as they look to register back-to-back wins along with finding a way to top the table when they lock horns with the Quetta Gladiators at National Stadium in Karachi on Monday.