South Africa tour casts doubt on England players’ availability for PSL playoffs

Few of the England players are unlikely to take part in the remaining Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches due to international duty.

PSL 5 playoffs, which were postponed indefinitely in March due to Covid-19 pandemic, are scheduled to be held in Lahore on November 14, 15 and 17 but this clashes with England’s team departure for South Africa on November 16.

14 English players were picked during the PSL draft in December, last year, while three players were inducted during the replacement draft in February, earlier this year.

Initial Draft

Phil Salt (Islamabad United), Alex Hales (Karachi Kings), Chris Jordan (Karachi Kings), Dan Lawrence (Karachi Kings), Liam Plunkett (Karachi Kings), Samit Patel (Lahore Qalandars), James Vince (Multan Sultans), Moeen Ali (Multan Sultans), Ravi Bopara (Multan Sultans), Tom Banton (Peshawar Zalmi), Liam Dawson (Peshawar Zalmi), Liam Livingstone (Peshawar Zalmi), Jason Roy (Quetta Gladiators), Tymal Mills (Quetta Gladiators)

Replacement Draft

Lewis Gregory (Peshawar Zalmi), Wayne Madsen (Multan Sultans), Dawid Malan (Islamabad United)

Players who featured for Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United are already out as their franchises did not qualify for the playoffs.

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The England men’s Tour of South Africa has been confirmed with three T20Is and three ODIs taking place behind closed doors in Cape Town and Paarl from next month.

England are yet to announce their squad for the series so it remains to be seen which players will be available for the remaining PSL matches.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have agreed to biosecurity and travel plans for what will be the first international tour undertaken by an England cricket team since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

CSA approved the plans with the South African Government earlier this week granting exemptions for inbound travel for the England players and management.

The three T20Is start on Friday, November 27 at Newlands, Cape Town. The second match of the series will be played at Boland Park, Paarl on Sunday, November 29. Newlands will host the third match on Tuesday, December 1.

The three-match ODI series, which are part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League, starts at Newlands on Friday, December 4. The second match will be played at Boland Park on Sunday, December 6 and the final game of the tour will take place on Wednesday, December 9 at Newlands.