PSL 2022: Alex Hales withdraws from the remainder of the tournament

The ongoing 7th edition of the PSL 2022 is about to head towards the business end of the tournament and all the teams will be looking forward to grabbing crucial two points so that their qualification into the playoffs is ensured. The defending champions Multan Sultans have been on a juggernaut, topping the table by winning six out of the seven games that they have played. The Karachi Kings are languishing at the bottom of the table having lost all seven matches that they have played.

While the top three seemed to have been almost confirmed- Multan Sultans at the top, followed by Lahore Qalandars at 10 points at second and Islamabad United at third with eight points. There will be a tussle between the Quetta Gladiators and the Peshawar Zalmi for the fourth position as both are tied at six points each. However, the Gladiators hold a slight advantage over the Zalmi due to the net run rate.

Islamabad United’s opener Alex Hales withdraws from the remainder of the ongoing PSL

In a big jolt to the United’s campaign going forward, their star opener Alex Hales has withdrawn from the tournament citing personal reasons. He was their star batter and is also their leading run-scorer in the competition. In seven innings, he has scored 255 at an average of 42.50.

Quetta Gladiator’s batter and his Nottinghamshire teammate Ben Duckett also withdrew from the competition citing personal reasons as well. Islamabad United has plenty to ponder on as this is the second blow to their campaign after their in-form player Ireland opener Paul Stirling had to leave the tournament for his international duties. With Rahmanullah Gurbaz slated to leave for Afghanistan’s upcoming series against Bangladesh, things do not seem positive for the United moving into the knock-out stages of the tournament.

The United grabbed a crucial two points by the scruff of the neck defeating the winless Karachi Kings by one run on Monday. Put in to bat first, the United scored a stiff total of 191-7 in 20 overs with skipper Shadab Khan top-scoring with 34 ably helped by quick cameos from other players as well. Karachi however could not emerge victorious even after half-centuries from Qasim Akram, Imad Wasim, and a useful 44 from opener Sharjeel Khan. With only eight runs needed by Karachi to win the match, Waqas Maqsood bowled a brilliant last over to see the United victorious in a thrilling contest.