Peshawar Zalmi have faced a major setback ahead of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 eliminator clash against Islamabad United on February 24. Their overseas all-rounder Ben Cutting and star leg-spinner Usman Qadir have tested positive for Covid-19 and won’t be available for playoff games. Along with the two players, their batting consultant, former South Africa batter Hashim Amla has contracted the virus as well.
As per Covid-19 guidelines of the T20 league, the two players will be in isolation for seven days. They will not just miss the eliminator but the final on February 27 as well if Wahab Riaz-led side manages to qualify with a depleted squad.
Earlier, Zalmi finished league stages on a high with a win in super over against Lahore Qalandars. They were in the third place with six wins from 10 games.
Cutting has scored 197 runs in the ongoing season from nine innings at an average of 28.14. He scored an unbeaten 52 against Multan Sultans in a losing cause. He has bowled only thrice, taking just one wicket from three games. Also, Cutting made headlines with his controversial gesture after avenging a similar insult in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) game few years ago.
On the other hand, 28-year-old leg-spinner, Qadir has taken eight wickets from seven games.
Updated Pershawar Zalmi squad: Hazratullah Zazai, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Haris, Shoaib Malik, Hussain Talat, Haider Ali, Wahab Riaz (c), Amad Butt, Khalid Usman, Mohammad Umar, Arshad Iqbal, Yasir Khan, Sherfane Rutherford, Liam Livingstone, Salman Irshad, Sohail Khan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sameen Gul, Patrick Brown, Arish Ali Khan, Mohammad Aamir Khan, Sirajuddin
