PSL 11: Hyderabad Kingsmen goal Maheesh Theekshana as Baartman alternative – Cricket Leagues
KARACHI: Debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen are weighing up their choices to interchange South African pacer Ottniel Baartman forward of the eleventh version of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), scheduled to run from 26 March to three May.
Sources have revealed that the Kingsmen franchise has approached Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana to affix the event.
His participation, nevertheless, is contingent on receiving a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
It is pertinent to say that Baartman was chosen by the franchise throughout the historic inaugural PSL gamers’ public sale, held on the Expo Centre in Lahore on 11 February.
The right-arm pacer, who was signed for PKR 1.1 crore, has since withdrawn from the upcoming version. Neither the participant nor the franchise has supplied a motive for his absence.
Theekshana, in the meantime, brings appreciable expertise within the shortest format of the sport. He has performed 83 T20Is for Sri Lanka, claiming 82 wickets with an economic system charge of seven.08.
He additionally boasts intensive franchise expertise, having featured in leagues such because the ILT20, Indian Premier League (IPL), SA20, Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Lanka Premier League (LPL).
The landmark eleventh version of the PSL will function eight groups, together with new entrants Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindi, competing in 44 matches over a 39-day interval.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has considerably scaled again its plans for the event, confirming that matches might be held at simply two venues and performed behind closed doorways.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi introduced the revised preparations at a media convention, stating that the choices adopted a joint assembly with franchise house owners and consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who serves because the Patron-in-Chief.
Six cities—Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore—had been initially named as potential hosts. However, the event has now been consolidated, with all matches set to happen in Karachi and Lahore.