(Cricket News) The Pakistan Super League (PSL) begins in Lahore on February 17, and all six franchises have been severely impacted as a number of players have chosen to play in the Bangladesh Premier League, ILT20, and SA20 leagues.

England pace bowler Reece Topley is the most recent player to withdraw from the PSL due to an injury. A number of prominent international cricketers have also withdrawn from the PSL due to dates clashing with other franchise-based tournaments.

Some other boards are also reconsidering their decision to grant no-objection certificates for the PSL. Multan will also be without Pakistan’s fast bowler Ehsanullah, who has not recovered from an elbow surgery he underwent following the PSL last year.

Quetta Gladiators will also be without South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi, while West Indies cricketers Shai Hope, Matthew Forde, and Akeal Hosein, as well as South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamshi and Rassie van Der Dussen, Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmed and Naveen ul Haq, among others, will not be participating in the PSL.

According to a PSL franchise owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “The SA20 ended recently and the ILT20 concludes on the day the PSL begins, so it is getting difficult to sign big players now.”

He also mentioned that January and February are a busy season for the international cricket series, with Sri Lanka playing a series against Afghanistan, South Africa in the middle of a two-Test series against New Zealand, and the West Indies playing a series against Australia. The owner of the franchise has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reexamine the tournament window.

“The PSL window has to be changed immediately; if we do not acquire big names from overseas, it will lose its charm,” he continued.

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