PSL 2021: Naseem Shah ruled out of the tournament after COVID-19 protocol breach

Naseem Shah, the young fast bowler, has been ruled out of the second leg of the 2021 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The right-armer was set to play for the Quetta Gladiators, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed, but his campaign has been cut short after he breached the COVID-19 protocol. Shah reached the designated hotel for PSL participants with a non-compliant RT-PCR test result.

As per the protocols, the ones travelling by chartered flights from Karachi and Lahore had to assemble in the Karachi and Lahore hotels on May 24 with negative reports of the PCR tests taken not more than 24 hours before their arrival to the hotel. However, Naseem showed a report of a test, conducted on May 18 after which he was sent into isolation on a separate floor.

Thereafter, he was released following the recommendation made by the independent medical advisory panel for the PSL. The other players will fly to Abu Dhabi on May 26. Babar Hamid, the director commercial and head of PSL 2021, put forth the development about Naseem.

Babar Hamid speaks on Naseem Shah

“The PCB doesn’t take any pride in releasing a young fast bowler from its marquee event, but if we will ignore this breach, we will potentially put at risk the entire event. We appreciate Quetta Gladiators for accepting this decision, as it confirms we are all aligned to strictly following and implementing the protocols,” Hamid was quoted as saying.

“This decision will also send out a loud and clear message to all involved in the remaining matches that the PCB will not compromise on any violations and will expel the player or player support personnel irrespective of his stature and standing in the game if they are found to be flouting the prescribed protocols or regulations,” he added.

When the tournament started in February, Shah had played two matches in which he couldn’t get a wicket and conceded runs at an economy rate of 11. The 18-year-old has come up the ranks in Pakistan cricket over the last one and half years.

The Gladiators, in the meantime, are languishing at the bottom of the points table with one win from four matches. Their only victory came against the Mohammad Rizwan-led Multan Sultans by 22 runs.