Reports: South Africa players to miss PSL 7 after CSA asks to focus on domestic cricket

In what could be a huge blow for franchises in Pakistan Super League (PSL), Cricket South Africa (CSA) have refused to send their players to play in the T20 tournament. The upcoming seventh edition of PSL is due to start on January 27. For the same, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that the six franchises can select two additional players from the mini-draft due to the COVID-19 situation. Earlier, the franchises had selected up to 18 players.

They were eagerly waiting for the mini-auction as South African players such as David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, and Tabraiz Shamsi were listed to choose from. However, six franchises now have to make do without the services of the Proteas players. The decision of CSA to make its players unavailable is due to the ongoing series against India. Currently, two Tests have been completed, and the third one will be played between January 11 to 15. After that, both teams will play three ODIs starting from January 19 to 23.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Cricket South Africa has refused to send their international players for HBL PSL 7.

Read more: https://t.co/llH6HXSl1B#HBLPSL7 #PSLMiniDraft pic.twitter.com/iMBuCBEiHX

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) January 8, 2022

CSA have also told its players to focus on a 4-day domestic competition, which earlier got underway in December. Meanwhile, according to reports in Cricket Pakistan, the sources have claimed that the franchises can now pick the remaining players from the first draft which had taken place on December 18.

Meanwhile, the PCB have started to get a little anxious about the seventh edition of PSL due to the COVID-19 situation in the country. For the same, it has stated that foreign players will have to undergo additional quarantine.

The PCB also faced some difficulty in conducting the domestic tournament as there were breaches in bio-bubble from players. However, it does not want to take any risk during g PSL and have roped in a foreign company to manage bio-bubble norms and protocols. PCB also do not have plan B and have to conduct the PSL seven in Pakistan.