Terrorism concerns force Kevin Pietersen, Tymal Mills to pull out of PSL final
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Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Nathan McCullum, and Tymal Mills have pulled out of the Pakistan Super League final to be held on March 5 in Lahore owing to concerns over security issues. All four players have been a part of Quetta Gladiators, who entered their second successive final this season.
Ending a week-long impasse, Punjab (Pakistan) chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had given a go-ahead to hosting the PSL final in Lahore on Monday, but expectedly, international players are pulling out of the competition one after another.
While Luke Wright played only one game in this edition of the tournament, Pietersen and Mills were the mainstays for their side. Pietersen scored a total of 241 runs at an average of 34, including a match-winning 22-ball 40 in the first qualifier, while T20 specialist Tymal Mills picked up seven wickets in five matches at an economy of 7.25.
KP tweeted,
I'll pick that up in London tomorrow. Bye bye Dubai! Your weather was 👎🏼 but the golf was 👍🏻. #FamilyTime https://t.co/jMIMrL26NY
— KP (@KP24) February 28, 2017
Sharing his feeling at his decision, the rising England star Mills said, "Unfortunately I will not be travelling to Lahore for the final but will be watching from home and cheering on the boys who I know will fight just as much as they have all tournament.”
Wright was pretty disappointed at leaving the tournament midway but hopes that the security conditions will get better in coming days. In a series of tweets, he shared his feelings.
It's with a heavy heart I will not be coming to Lahore. I have a young family and for me a game of cricket is just not worth the risk 1/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017
I'm sorry as I know how much it means to you all and hopefully in the future the safety will not be in doubt to come play there. 2/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017
Thanks once again to @TeamQuetta and @thePSLt20 for having me. Such lovely people. Great tournament with so much talent. See u soon 👍👍 3/3
— Luke Wright (@lukewright204) February 28, 2017
Apart from the England trio, Kiwi all-rounder Nathan McCullum has also pulled out of the final. He has not played a single game in the tournament for the franchise in this edition.
Quetta will now try to replace the four players from a list of 60 names that are willing to travel to Lahore for the final. Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Peshawar Zalmi are the other three teams still in the fray, and the decisions of their overseas recruits will come out over the next couple of days, once the playoffs are over.
