PSL 2024: Multan Sultan Suffer Twin Big Blows; Lose Two Pacers To Injury Before Tournament

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Multan Sultans suffered two major setbacks before the first ball was bowled in the PSL 2024 as English fast bowler Reece Topley and last season's top-wicket taker Ihsanullah have been ruled out with injuries.

As per reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) refused to release the player while Ihsanullah has been reeling with a long injury layoff and failed to be fit in time for PSL 2024, confirmed Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen.

Ihsanullah, who finished top of the bowling chart with 23 wickets last season and broke into the Pakistan national team, sustained an injury during his ODI debut against New Zealand last year. The 21-year-old pacer subsequently missed the The Hundred Tournament in Europe and has played no games for Pakistan ever since. The franchise was informed by Pakistan Cricket Board that Ihsanullah is not fit for PSL 2024.

"PCB has informed us that Ihsanullah will miss the entire PSL," Sultans' owner Ali Tareen said in 'Relukattay' podcast.

Reece Topley, on the other hand, was not granted the No Objection Certificate (NOC) due to a minor injury concern. The English pacer recently played for Durban Super Giants in the SA20 league but couldn't play in the final.

The franchise, who finished runners-up in back-to-back PSL, is yet to name replacements for both players and will have to rethink their strategy for the season in their bid to claim title after winning it last in 2021. They are expected to rely on another young Pakistan pacer in Abbas Afridi, who finished second in the top wicket-taker runs with 22 wickets.

Rest of the Multan Sultans squad for PSL 2024

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Faisal Akram, Dawid Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Tayyab Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan, Yasir Khan, Chris Jordan, Aftab Ibrahim, David Willey, Johnson Charles, Muhammad Shahzad

Multan Sultans play their opening match of PSL 2024 against Karachi Kings on February 18.