The 2020 edition of the Pakistan Super League, which began in February but was brought to a standstill by the coronavirus pandemic in March, is finally set to conclude later this month when the playoffs take place in Karachi.
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Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi are the four sides remaining in the tournament, which will end with a final on November 17.
Here are the English players in squads for the final fixtures:
Updated as of November 9
Alex Hales – Karachi Kings
The tournament was stopped back in March after Hales developed coronavirus symptoms upon his return home to England; prior to then he’d enjoyed a strong season with Karachi Kings, striking 239 runs at an average of 59.75 and strike rate of 156.20.
Adam Lyth – Multan Sultans
Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth – who played seven Tests for England back in 2015 – has been named as a replacement player at Multan Sultans for the West Indies’ Fabian Allen. While seven runs from three innings in the Bangladesh Premier League is the total of Lyth’s playing experience in T20 franchise leagues, he has delivered consistently in recent Blast campaigns and holds a T20 best of 161 off 73 balls.
Samit Patel – Lahore Qalandars
Patel, who won the T20 Blast with Notts in October, will return to a tournament in which he was showcasing some impressive performances. While he played a more prominent role with the ball in his nine appearances in February and March, a 40-ball 71 helped seal a 37-run win over Quetta Gladiators. Days later Patel opened the bowling alongside Shaheen Afridi and returned incredible figures of 4-5 from his four overs in another win over Quetta.
Ravi Bopara – Multan Sultans
Bopara has been a regular visitor to the PSL over the years but struggled for success in his few games for the Sultans earlier this year, averaging 12.75 from four innings. He’ll return to the tournament on the back of an underwhelming Blast campaign with Sussex, his 122 runs from 11 innings coming at an average of 12.20 and strike rate of 93.84.
Saqib Mahmood – Peshawar Zalmi
Having failed to find a place in England’s limited-overs squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa, Mahmood has been drafted in as a replacement for Liam Livingstone, who could be set for an ODI debut next month.
Joe Denly – Multan Sultans
James Vince was set to take part in the play-offs for the Sultans but was ruled out after testing positive for coronavirus in England. Denly, who recently lost his England white-ball central contract, was called up in his place.
