LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have suffered a major setback ahead of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), with emerging fast bowler Ali Shabbir pulling out of the tournament.
In a statement released on Thursday via the franchise’s official social media platforms, Gillanders confirmed that Shabbir sustained an injury to his right arm while fielding for Bahawalpur in the National T20 Cup.
Following a comprehensive medical evaluation, it was decided that the young fast bowler will not be able to participate in this year’s PSL.
Shabir, who was recently signed in the Under-23 category, was expected to feature in the squad for the upcoming season.
He joined the ongoing conditioning camp at the Smart Calendars High Performance Center in Islamabad, where he was further evaluated by the team’s medical staff.
The fast bowler has been advised to rest for four to six weeks due to the fracture.
A promising product of the Qalandar’s player development program, Shabir featured before advancing to the development phase in PDP 2025, recognized as one of the program’s rising prospects.
His absence is disappointing for the player and franchise ahead of an important campaign.
The team management is monitoring the situation closely and is expected to announce a replacement as per the match regulations.
However, no official confirmation regarding the transfer has been made yet.
The upcoming PSL season will last for 39 days from March 26 to May 3 and has an expanded lineup of eight teams.
Along with the existing six franchises, two new teams, the Bindis and the Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, will debut.
A total of 44 matches will be played in this tournament. Lahore Qalandars will open the match against Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen at their home ground on March 26.
Each team will play 10 group-stage matches, with the top four advancing to the play-offs. The final is scheduled to be played on May 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with May 4 as a contingency date.
There will be six doubleheader matches, including three at Gaddafi Stadium. The matches will be played across six stadiums, with Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi along with Faisalabad and Peshawar hosting PSL matches for the first time.
Gaddafi Stadium (15), Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (11), Faisalabad Iqbal Stadium (seven), National Bank Stadium in Karachi (six) and Multan Cricket Stadium (four) have played the most matches.
Meanwhile, a match will be played between Peshawar Zalmi and Bintis on March 28 at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar.
Lahore Qalandars Squad for PSL 11: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abdullah Shafiq, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Mustafizur Rahman, Haris Raoob, Usama Mir, Faqar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Farooq, Dasun Shanaka, Parvez Hossain Eman, Asif Tahir, Taiya Well Tahirke.
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