Hours after shock PSL retirement, Pakistan pacer Ihsanullah makes U-turn
Hours after announcing his shock retirement from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), pacer Ihsanullah decided to reverse his decision.
The 22-year-old claim that he had made the call in the heat of the moment and apologised for his actions. Ihsanullah officially announced his retirement from the PSL following his omission from the season 10 draft. The 22-year-old expressed frustration over the lack of recognition despite his consistent performances, leading to his decision to step away from Pakistan’s premier T20 competition.
Speaking in a candid interview with Public News, Ihsanullah shared his disappointment at being overlooked during the draft held on January 13. He clarified that his decision was not made in the heat of the moment but was a well-considered choice after thoroughly reflecting on the situation.
The pacer also claimed that he would make the doubters ‘chase him’ by bowling at a pace of 150-160 km/h. However, as quoted by ARY News, Ihsanullah has gone back on his statements and said he made the retirement call purely on emotions. The 22-year-old also said that his friends and family messed with his head.
“There’s no plan for retirement, I announced the decision yesterday in emotions”. “When I wasn’t picked in the PSL draft, my friends & family also messed with my head and I announced retirement in the heat of the moment”.
Ihsanullah also vowed to work hard and make a comeback in domestic cricket to ensure he would have buyers next time around and also apologised to the Multan Sultans for his statement.
Ihsanullah’s PSL career so far
Ihsanullah, who made a name for himself with an impressive 22 wickets at an economy rate of 7.59 during PSL 8 for Multan Sultans, quickly caught the attention of selectors and earned a spot in Pakistan’s T20I squad. He made his international debut against Afghanistan in March 2023 and later featured in a series against New Zealand. Ihsanullah also earned his maiden ODI cap during the same series.
However, his promising rise was abruptly derailed by an elbow injury, which led to significant controversy over the handling of his recovery. An independent investigation into the matter resulted in the resignation of Pakistan’s chief medical officer, further highlighting the mishandling of his rehabilitation process.
After months on the sidelines, Ihsanullah made his return to competitive cricket in the Champions T20 Cup. Although his comeback yielded just two wickets in four matches, it marked an important step in his efforts to regain form and fitness.