Shadab among Pakistan stars set to depart T20 league

LONDON, CMC – Leaders Trinbago Knight Riders are one of several Caribbean Premier League franchises set to be hurt by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s sudden recall of several of its players from the tournament.
In a statement, the PCB announced that its centrally contracted [players] would be required back in Pakistan because of the re-scheduling of the National T20 Cup to accommodate the ICC World XI series.
As a result, leg-spinner Shadab Khan, who has been a key member of the Knight Riders attack, will leave the Caribbean shortly leaving a huge void for the front-runners.
He will be joined by Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Sami, Sohail Tanvir, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Hasan Ali and Kamran Akmal.
National captain Sarfraz Ahmed along with Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir have also been recalled from playing in the English T20 Blast.
The 18-year-old Shadab, who burst onto the international scene on Pakistan’s tour of the Caribbean this year, has already taken nine wickets in five outings for TKR to be their leading wicket-taker.
He has claimed two Man-of-the-Match awards.
The absence of Shoaib and Wahab will also leave a gaping hole in Barbados Tridents. Veteran Shoaib is one of the Bridgetown-based franchise’s key batters while Wahab has already taken seven wickets to lead the side’s attack.
Left-arm spinner Wasim and seamer Mohammad Sami are also central to
the attack of reigning
champions Jamaica Tallawahs while Tanvir and Babar will leave winless Guyana Amazon Warriors scrambling to find replacements.
Off-spinning-all-rounder Hafeez and pacer Hasan Ali have been part of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots lineup which have won three on the trot while Kamran Akmal turns out for the winless St Lucia Stars.
The recalled Pakistan players are expected to report to training in Lahore on August 22 for the National T20 which bowls off three days later.