Published: Mar 01, 2017, 02:28 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 01, 2017, 02:35 PM (IST)
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, Quetta Gladiators were rocked ahead of the tournament’s final as majority of their overseas players have opted out from travelling to Lahore. Key players like Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Tymal Mills have all tweeted about leaving the tournament, while former New Zealand off-spinner Nathan McCullum has also declared his pull out from the participation. South African batsman Rilee Rossouw is believed to be still contemplating whether to play in the final that is to be held on March 5, in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
England’s all rounder, Wright, came out on Twitter to express his reason for the decision, citing security concerns. He tweeted, “It’s with a heavy heart I will not be coming to Lahore. I have a young family and for me a game of cricket is just not worth the risk. I’m sorry as I know how much it means to you all and hopefully in the future the safety will not be in doubt to come play there.”
The overseas players had a major role to play in Quetta Gladiators’ progress in the tournament. In the first qualifying match, Quetta Gladiators won over Peshawar Zalmi by 1 run, where Pietersen made 40 runs from 22 balls, taking his tally to 241 runs. Mills claimed a total of 7 wickets from five matches, while Wright has played just one match. McCullum, on the other hand, has not played even a single one. The top player of the side currently seems to be Rossouw with 255 runs at 42.50 and a strike-rate 123.18.
It’s with a heavy heart I will not be coming to Lahore. I have a young family and for me a game of cricket is just not worth the risk 1/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) 28 February 2017
I’m sorry as I know how much it means to you all and hopefully in the future the safety will not be in doubt to come play there. 2/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017
Thanks once again to @TeamQuetta and @thePSLt20 for having me. Such lovely people. Great tournament with so much talent. See u soon 3/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017
I’ll pick that up in London tomorrow. Bye bye Dubai! Your weather was but the golf was. #FamilyTime https://t.co/jMIMrL26NY
— KP (@KP24) 28 February 2017
@TeamQuetta @thePSLt20 . pic.twitter.com/4aT80px8zj
— Tymal Mills (@tmills15) February 28, 2017
PSL 2017, which has struggled its way towards the final with a lot of issues has offered one-off payments, ranging from USD 10,000 to 50,000 to foreign players if they agree to play in Lahore.
The teams that are low on foreign players have the option of acquiring another batch from the group of nominated cricketers. The list of foreign players who would possibly participate in the tournament, initially consisting of 54 names has ascended to 60, and is believed to be consisting those who were not picked last year, and additionally players from outside the draft who are willing to travel to Lahore.
The franchises are then to nominate five to six players from the list and hand it to the organisers. PSL hopes that ultimately, accounting for common names that appear in multiple lists, they have a shortlist of 12 to 15 waiting on standby to feature in the final.
Speaking to ESPN, a foreign player who is considering playing in the final reasoned, “What is the difference in me playing in Lahore under a security threat and a Pakistani player doing so?” he said. “In any attack both are at risk. And physios and masseuses? A life is a life, mine or a Pakistani player’s,” the player argued.
