Another Blow To Mohsin Naqvi's PSL 'Number 1' Dream As UAE Recalls 2 Players From 2026 Season

Two players from Karachi Kings — Khuzaima Bin Tanveer and Muhammad Waseem — have temporarily left the squad during the ongoing 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after being recalled by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

According to Geo News, they were instructed to return to theUnited Arab Emirates to take part in the country’s domestic 50-over (D50) tournament. The report said the directive from the ECB required both players to leave immediately and join their domestic sides.

The report said both players are expected to return to the PSL after featuring in two matches in the D50 competition. Clearance has reportedly been granted for them to rejoin the franchise once those fixtures are completed.

Their availability for the Kings’

upcoming match against Peshawar Zalmi on April 9 remains uncertain. The match is scheduled to take place in Karachi, and it is unclear whether the players will complete their domestic duties in time to be considered for selection.

Waseem has had a mixed start to the PSL season, scoring 0 in the opening game against Quetta Gladiators, followed by 38 runs against Lahore Qalandars, and 23 runs in another outing. Meanwhile, Khuzaima has yet to play this year.

The Kings, led by David Warner, have made a strong start to the tournament. The team currently sits at the top of the points table with three wins from three matches.

Why is it a blow to PSL

On one hand, this development shows the growing power of national cricket boards. In the IPL, Cricket Australia (CA) has exercised great control over its players, deciding when the likes of Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly can contribute with the ball to their respective teams.

It also shows that the PSL is struggling to keep hold of its players. Although Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has repeatedly claimed that PSL would soonbecome ‘the number one’ league in the world, it can’t get there if relatively small boards can call back their nationals for domestic tournaments — not even international cricket — in the middle of a season.

Moreover, Naqvi and the PCB can’t fight these demands from the boards either because they want to attract as much overseas talent as possible, as its window directly clashes with the IPL.