After a period of uncertainty, Shakib Al Hasan is set to make his return to cricket. If all goes well, the star Bangladeshi all-rounder will feature in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). Although his name was included in the draft for this season, Shakib initially went unsold. However, the situation has changed midway through the tournament—Lahore Qalandars have signed the experienced cricketer.
Shakib will travel from New York to Pakistan to join his team in the PSL.
The league had been temporarily suspended due to recent military tensions between India and Pakistan. The remaining matches are scheduled to resume on May 17. Due to the suspension, several foreign players have opted out of returning, leaving vacant spots in team rosters. As a result, franchises are bringing in new players, which opened the door for Shakib. On Wednesday, Lahore Qalandars officially added him to their squad. Bangladeshi leg-spinning all-rounder Rishad Hossain has also played for the franchise this season.
This isn’t Shakib’s first appearance in the PSL. He made his debut in 2016 for Karachi Kings, making an immediate impact with a 51-run innings off 35 balls and taking a wicket to earn the Player of the Match award. He later played for Peshawar Zalmi and also previously for Lahore Qalandars. However, due to injuries and other commitments, he hasn’t featured regularly in any single season.
To date, Shakib has played 14 matches in the PSL, scoring 181 runs at an average of 16.36 with a strike rate of 107.14. With the ball, he has taken 8 wickets at an economy rate of 7.39.
UA / TDS
