KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators have signed West Indies pacer Alzari Joseph as a direct replacement for Australian pacer Spencer Johnson ahead of the upcoming 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Citing Johnson’s unavailability for personal reasons, the franchise confirmed the roster change through their official social media channels on Sunday.
The 30-year-old left-hander, who made his international debut for Australia in 2023, has featured in five ODIs and eight T20Is to date.
Joseph comes with a formidable reputation in the shortest form in the Pakistan Super League.
The Caribbean pacer has taken 62 wickets in 45 T20Is for the West Indies, maintaining an economy rate of 9.24. His tally for his national team includes two four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.
The right-arm fast bowler is familiar with the conditions in Pakistan, having represented Peshawar Zalmi in his tenth season of the tournament.
In eight outings for the former champions, Joseph took 12 wickets at an economy of 8.80.
The historic 11th edition of the marquee event is scheduled to be held from March 26 to May 3, with eight competing teams participating.
Along with the six original franchises, the expanded lineup includes two new entrants: Pindis and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen.
The 39-day tournament will consist of 44 matches, with defending champions Lahore Qalandars set to kick off against Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen on March 26.
According to the recently released schedule, each team will play ten matches in the group stage. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs, culminating in the final on May 3 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has designated May 4 as a reserve day for showpiece events.
This year’s tournament will feature six double-header matches, three of which are scheduled at Gaddafi Stadium.
The tournament expands to six venues across Pakistan, with Faisalabad and Peshawar hosting PSL matches for the first time, joined by Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.
Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium leads the busiest ground with 15 matches, followed by Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (11), Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium (seven), Karachi’s National Bank Stadium (six), and Multan Cricket Stadium (four).
A one-day match between home team Peshawar Zalmi and Bintis will be played on March 28 at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar.
Quetta Gladiators Squad Updated: Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Shamil Hussain, Alzari Joseph (direct signing), Riley Rossow, Faisal Akram, Arafat Minhas, Jahandad Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafe, Wasim Akram Jr., Khan Saif, Bismilla Khan, Champ, Saqib Khan, Champ Khan Jacobs, South Shakeel, Ben McDermott and Tom Curran.
Quetta Gladiators PSL 11 Fixtures:
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