Steven Finn to replace Andre Russell in the Islamabad United squad for the upcoming PSL

England fast bowler Steven Finn is all set to replace Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell in the Islamabad United’s squad for the upcoming Pakistan Super League, the Islamabad United manager told Dawn News on Wednesday. Islamabad United who is the defending champions of the competition will look to replicate their performance from the inaugural season and defend their title successfully. The 2nd season of the PSL will kick start on 9th February with the final expected to be played in Pakistan.

Russell has been banned from playing cricket for a year after violating the whereabouts clause of an independent anti-doping panel which makes him ineligible to play in the upcoming tournament. The ban is effective from January 31, 2017, to January 30, 2018. Russell who was the leading wicket-taker in the inaugural PSL with 16 scalps was earlier retained by his franchise while he was awaiting the verdict on the dope charge.

A three-member tribunal comprising of Hugh Faulkner, Dr Majorie Vassell and Dixeth Palmer found Russell guilty of being oscitant in filing his whereabouts on three different occasions within a 12 month period which accounts to a failed dope test under the rules and regulations of World-Anit Doping Agency rules.

“Mr Russell was found guilty of a doping violation,” Hugh Faulkner, chairman of the independent anti-doping tribunal who handed out the punishment, said in a statement. The 2nd edition of the PSL begins on February 9 with the opening encounter to be played between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi at the Dubai International Stadium.

Also read: Glenn Maxwell wants to cement his place in the Test team as the No.6 batsman

Finn, on the other hand, hasn’t been a member of the English limited-overs set-up in the recent times and played his last ODI way back in September 2015. Despite not playing limited overs cricket for a long time, his experience will be handy for the Islamabad United who will surely want to defend their coveted title. Finn has played a total of 66 T20s bagging 74 wickets at an impressive average of 23 with his best figures being 4/28.