LAHORE: Carlos Brathwaite will stay with Peshawar Zalmi for the complete duration of the HBL Pakistan Super League after another West Indian Kieron Pollard was ruled out of the tournament due to a niggle in his right thigh, according to an announcement made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) here on Saturday.

“Pollard, who was expected to join the Zalmi squad after the conclusion of the West Indies tour of Sri Lanka, is experiencing occasional tightness at his right rectus femoris quad muscle because of an injury sustained earlier,” read the PCB announcement.Brathwaite of Barbados was originally called up as a cover for Pollard till March 6 but now he will stay till the end of the PSL, scheduled for March 22.

“I’m sorry I can’t be there in person this year but the team has some inspirational characters leading the charge and I’m sure can give Daren [Sammy] his first trophy as the head coach.”

Trinidad and Tobago’s Pollard said: “With a heavy heart I wish my team-mates at Peshawar Zalmi all the best for the remainder of the PSL 2020.

Pollard had turned up in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 editions of the PSL. In 33 PSL matches, the West Indian has scored 650 runs, which includes three half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 166.24.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2020