England seamer Steven Finn will replace West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell in Pakistan Super League defending champions Islamabad United's squad for the upcoming tournament, the Islamabad United manager told DawnNews Wednesday.
Russell has been banned from cricket for a year by an independent anti-doping panel over a whereabouts clause violation and will by unavailable for the tournament. The ban is effective from Jan 31 and will last till Jan 30, 2018.
Islamabad United had initially decided to retain Russell — the most successful bowler in PSL last year with 16 scalps — while he awaited a verdict on the doping charge.
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However, the two-time Twenty20 World Cup winner was charged for having committed the violation 11 months ago after registering three filing failures in 2015. That constitutes a failed drugs test under World Anti-Doping Agency rules.
“Mr Russell was found guilty of a doping violation,” Hugh Faulkner, chairman of the independent anti-doping tribunal that handed out the punishment, said in a statement.
The second season of Pakistan Super League will begin Feb 9 with Islamabad United playing against Peshawar Zalmi in the first match in Dubai.
