PSL 2021: Quetta Gladiators’ Andre Russell concussed after copping a blow on the helmet

On Friday, June 11, Andre Russell played for the Quetta Gladiators in his maiden appearance in the 2021 Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, he had a torrid time as he ended up being concussed during the match against Islamabad United at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. In the 14th over of the Gladiators’ innings, Russell was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Muhammad Musa.

Musa churned out a short delivery, catching Russell off-guard as the latter was in no position to negotiate the bouncer. The ball climbed steeply and hit the batter on the grill. In the previous two balls, Russell carted the speedster for massive sixes over the leg-side boundary. After copping the blow, the batsman took some time out and got himself checked by the team physiotherapist.

Naseem Shah roped in as Andre Russell’s concussion substitute

Though he resumed batting, he could survive one more ball. Musa bowled a bumper and Russell top-edged it to Mohammad Wasim Jr at short third-man while trying to play a pull shot. The 34-year-old Jamaican, thereafter, was carried off in a stretcher for further treatment of his concussion. Right-arm fast bowler Naseem Shah was roped in as a like-for-like concussion substitute for Russell.

United skipper Shadab Khan didn’t seem happy with Shah replacing Russell and could be seen taking to umpire Aleem Dar before the second innings. The decision on whether a player is a like-for-like replacement is decided by the match referee, who was Muhammad Javed in Friday’s game. Shah’s inclusion might have been because Russell couldn’t bowl four overs in the United’s run-chase.

The Gladiators’ next match is against the Peshawar Zalmi on Saturday, June 12, and Russell is set to miss the game. Cameron Delport and Zahir Khan are the other two overseas options for Quetta. Shah didn’t have a great outing with the ball as he leaked 19 runs in the only over he bowled.

Colin Munro hit him for four fours as the United plundered 19 runs in the first over of their run-chase. The Gladiators lost the match by 10 wickets after Munro’s 36-ball 90 with 12 fours and five sixes. With the loss, Quetta kept languishing at the bottom of the points table.