Rahmanullah pulls out of PSL 11 days after direct signing by Peshawar Zalmi

ISLAMABAD: Afghan batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz has withdrawn from the upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League, dealing a setback to Peshawar Zalmi just days after the franchise confirmed his direct signing for PSL 11.

The aggressive Afghanistan opener announced that he will not be available for the tournament due to personal commitments following the World Cup. Gurbaz said he plans to return to Afghanistan after the global event to complete welfare work, which will rule him out of the PSL window.

His withdrawal comes shortly after Zalmi owner Javed Afridi publicly welcomed him to the “Zalmi family” on social media, confirming that the franchise had secured him through a direct signing ahead of the draft.

Gurbaz, a dynamic top-order batter and wicketkeeper known for his powerplay hitting, has prior PSL experience. He has previously represented Islamabad United and Multan Sultans, making an impact with his high-tempo starts at the top.

Zalmi will now need to reassess their top-order plans as they look to fill the gap left by Gurbaz’s late unavailability before finalising their squad balance for PSL 11.