Colin Munro to miss the PSL 2021 for Islamabad United after missing out on booking quarantine slot in New Zealand

Colin Munro will not be taking part in the upcoming Pakistan Super League 2021 due to a bizarre turn of events. The New Zealand batsman was supposed to represent Islamabad United in the league, a franchise he had played for in the previous season. Munro is still in Australia playing for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League 2020-21. 

Munro was supposed to fly to Pakistan right after his stint with Scorchers would have been over, but now a quarantine rule in his home country has restricted him from going over to the PSL 2021. The tournament will be starting later this month. On the other hand, Big Bash League’s final match will be played on February 6. 

The reason why Munro can’t go to Pakistan has to do with the quarantine rules in New Zealand. The system which has been put into order by the government has a policy that citizens coming back into the country have to reserve their quarantine slots ahead of time. But, the opening batsman forgot to book his slot on time.

Islamabad was really good for me, says Colin Munro

The next slot which he could have booked was mid-May. “I’m very disappointed to be missing out because Islamabad was really good to me. They retained me knowing I was going to go there straight after the Big Bash but I just couldn’t get any quarantine booked in time,” Munro was quoted saying by ESPNCricinfo. 

The aggressive batsman went on to explain the entire situation which has led to this call. “The PSL finishes on the 23rd [22nd] of March and I could only get back into the country in the middle of May then another two weeks on top of that. It’s tough, but the world the way it is maybe that’s a silver lining – spend some more time at home with the family and get ready for whatever is next.”

Colin Munro had scored 248 runs at an average of 35 in the previous edition of the PSL. He was also in top form after featuring for Scorchers in the ongoing BBL. He has already scored 441 runs for Perth this season. Had he made it to Pakistan, Islamabad would have had a top-quality opening batsman.