Peshawar Zalmi will have to hunt their PSL X playoff dreams without the changeable Mitchell Owen, after the Australian batter selected to play in the IPL over the PSL when both leagues restart in just a few days.
The Pakistan Super League is gearing up for its long-awaited reappearance on May 17, with Zalmi firmly in the search for a playoff spot. But Owen has made it clear heโll be available for Punjab Kings instead of Zalmi. Engaged as an additional for Glenn Maxwell, Owen was set to join Punjab Kings after packaging up his PSL responsibilities.
However, the administrative tensions between Pakistan and India late both leagues, aggressive their continuation dates dangerously close. With compressed schedules on both fronts, Owen faced a rough choice and the 23-year-old has chosen for the IPL.
Owenโs entrance PSL season with Peshawar Zalmi showed sparks of wisdom. His violent stroke play and eye-catching strike rate of 192.45 amazed fans, but 102 runs in 8 innings left room for improvement. Zalmi, though, arenโt left clambering; Abdul Samad and Najeebullah Zadran are ready to step up and fill the cancelled.
With just days to go before the restart, PSL X endures to contend with off-field challenges. The absence of key internationals like Owen is a stark notice of how external forces can shape the fate of a national T20 league. But the cricket promises to be exciting as the season dashes toward a dramatic deduction.
Will Zalmi manage without Mitchell Owen? Can Lahore Qalandars inform into the playoffs? Will Quetta Gladiators turn their dominance into another title? And can Mike Hesson halt Islamabad Unitedโs slide? All these questions and more will be answered soon.
