LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars have lost the services of two key foreign players — batsman Chris Lynn and all-rounder David Wiese — ahead of their HBL Pakistan Super League semi-final due to the global coronavirus crisis.

Third-placed Qalandars, who made a brilliant comeback in the PSL after remaining at bottom on the points table in the earlier part of the league, face Karachi Kings, second on points table, in the semi-final at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. Australian Lynn and Wiese of South Africa have contributed well in helping Qalandars making the last-four stage.

Promising Pakistan opener Abid Ali and Salman Ali Agha, a player of domestic circuit, have replaced Lynn and Wiese, according to the announcement made by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday.

A good number of foreign cricketers, who were part of PSL 2020 have already returned to their respective countries.

Lynn, 29, in his message on Instagram before leaving Pakistan said: “Thoroughly enjoyed my time at the PSL; unfortunately in these circumstances I’ve chosen to head home, I’ve always said there is more to life than cricket and this is certainly one of these cases (sic).

“I have full faith in the Lahore Qalandars to go all the way but more importantly have fun lads! Thank you to everyone involved, Pakistan you have been a blast (sic).”

Big-hitting Ben Dunk, another Qalandars player from Australia, however, is staying back in Pakistan.

Moreover, fourth-placed Peshawar Zalmi who reached the semi-final on better run-rate than Quetta Gladiators, despite suffering a lot due to the return of its five foreign players last week in the aftermath of the corona virus, have included Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza as replacement. While Zalmi have lost five foreign players namely Carlos Brathwaite, Liam Dawson, Lewis Gregory, Liam Livingstone and Tom Banton due to the coronavirus concerns, Qalandars were the only side which had not lost the services of any foreign player, before the departure of Lynn and Wiese.

Right-handed Abid, who has set a world record of scoring centuries on his debut in both ODI and Test cricket, however, was not considered by any franchise in the first draws and now he may get an opportunity to show his mettle.

Salman is little known as he has played just 15 matches in domestic cricket.

The 33-year-old Sikandar, a Sialkot-born cricketer, toured Pakistan with Zimbabwe team in 2015.

Earlier, Alex Hales (Karachi Kings), Rilee Rossouw and James Vince (Multan Sultans), Jason Roy and Tymal Mills (Quetta Gladiators), besides Lynn, Wiese (Qalandars) and five cricketers of Zalmi returned to their respective countries taking the sheen off the PSL whose all matches were being held in Pakistan for the first time since the league’s inception in 2016. Restricting fans from witnessing the PSL matches at the stadiums from March 13 had already reduced its excitement.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2020