PSL 2022: Shahid Afridi rejoins Quetta Gladiators squad, available for selection

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who tested positive for Covid-19 last month, has now rejoined the Quetta Gladiators squad for a reminder of PSL 2022 after returning a negative rapid antigen test. The 46-year-old will now be available for the next match against Islamabad United on the 3rd of February. Afridi tested positive on January 27 ahead of the start of PSL 2022. He subsequently had to quarantine himself at home until he returned a negative PCR test.

Afridi had already stated that this will be his last PSL tournament and is likely to join the coaching staff in the big-hitting department, although it is not yet confirmed.  The former Pakistan captain has been around for a long time since making his debut in 1996 and is one of the most aggressive cricketers going around. Fondly called the boom boom, Afridi still holds the record for the most sixes in ODIs and has taken more than 500 international wickets across formats.

James Vince and Jason Roy to join Quetta Gladiators squad

According to reports from Cricket Pakistan, England duo James Vince and Jason Roy will also be joining the Quetta Gladiators squad alongside Afridi straight away from West Indies after the recently concluded limited-overs series. Both batters were in good touch for England and can be very destructive in the batting order for any side. Afghanistan’s U19 sensation Noor Ahmad will also be joining the side after his stint in the ongoing U-19 World Cup. The left-arm spinner played for the Karachi Kings in the PSL 2021 season.

Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators have only managed to win just one of their three games so far in the season but are lying at the 3rd position only because of their better net run rate. The Sarfraz Ahmed-led side lost a close encounter against the Multan Sultans yesterday (January 31) by just six runs after impressive bowling spells from David Willey, Imran Tahir and Khushdil Shah.

The return of Afridi will be a major boost to the side as he is immensely experienced and can hit the big sixes at will in the middle order. Quetta Gladiators have won the PSL 2019 season previously while ending up runners up on two occasions in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.