South African pacer Lungi Ngidi has withdrawn from the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League. Ngidi has informed his franchise Peshawar Zalmi about his absence from the 2024 edition of the PSL. Zalmi will sign a replacement for Ngidi from the supplementary and replacement draft. Lungi Ngidi was picked up by the Peshawar Zalmi in the December draft.
As per a source who told Pakistani news channel Geo News, Lungi Ngidi didn’t receive the No Objection Certificate from Cricket South Africa. The major reason behind the delay in his NOC certificate was the fitness concerns with Ngidi. Ngidi has been in and out of his national team due to his fitness issues.
Apart from Lungi Ngidi, big names such as Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Tom Curran have already been ruled out of the Pakistan Super League 2024. Every team will be picking their replacement player from the supplementary and replacement draft on January 29, 2024. Every PSL franchise will pick their replacement players under the silver, gold, and platinum drafts.
Lungi Ngidi opts out of the Pakistan Super League 2024
Big upset for Peshawar Zalmi
جنوبی افریقہ کے لونگی نگیڈی پی ایس ایل 9 کے لیے دستیاب نہیں ہونگے. لونگی نگیڈی نے پشاور زلمی کو دستیاب نہ ہونے سے متعلق آگاہ کردیا. لونگی نگیڈی کی جگہ متبادل کھلاڑی کو اب پشاور زلمی پک کرے گی.
, پی ایس ایل 9 میں کل 9 کھلاڑی ایسے ہیں جنکو عارضی اور… pic.twitter.com/sidVt8TF64— Qadir Khawaja (@iamqadirkhawaja) January 26, 2024
West Indies cricketer Kieron Pollard is expected to miss the Pakistan Super League 2024 due to his commitments with the Mumbai Indians for the Indian Premier League. Karachi Kings are expected to find his replacement from the Platinum player draft.
Apart from Lungi Ngidi, Peshawar Zalmi will also have to look for a replacement for Afghanistan spin duo Naveen-ul-Haq and Noor Ahmad. On the other hand, other Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan withdrew from the PSL 9 as he will continue to rehab from his back injury and will not play for the Lahore Qalandars. Other than Rashid, Qalandars will have to find a replacement for Dan Lawrence, who was called up for England’s national duty.
Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasarangha will also be missing the first five games of the Pakistan Super League, and Quetta Gladiators, will have to find his temporary replacement.
The ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League is all set to kickstart on February 17, 2024. The tournament will be played across five different venues which include Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi. The final of the tournament will be played on March 18 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars have won two titles each out of the eight editions, while Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans have each won one. With 113 wickets, veteran Pakistani bowler Wahab Riaz leads the tournament in wicket-taking, while Babar Azam leads with 2935 runs scored.
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars are once again the favorites to win the Pakistan Super League 2024.