Dubai: Lahore Qalandars will travel to Pakistan for the home stretch of the PSL without South African ace AB de Villiers. De Villiers, who had signed up for seven games of the UAE leg and two matches in Lahore, had gone back home and now, because of a back injury, wouldn’t be returning to rejoin the team.
“I am very disappointed that I will not be able to play in front of the passionate Pakistani cricket fans,” de Villiers said in a press statement. “I saw my doctor who has advised complete rest for two weeks and, unfortunately, that rules me out of the games in Karachi. I hope to be a part of the HBL PSL next year and very much hope to play my part in the return of international cricket to the country. I am backing Lahore Qalandars to go all the way and win the trophy this year.”
The PSL’s UAE leg ends on March 5, before the last four group matches and the qualifiers and finals are held in Karachi from March 9.
The games in Pakistan were initially scheduled to be split between Lahore and Karachi, from March 7, but along with the slight postponement, all games have been moved to Karachi. The decision was made keeping in mind logistical issues following recent political and military tensions between Pakistan and India.
Qalandars are fourth on the PSL points table, with three wins in seven matches.
