Lahore, January 14, 2025: Pakistan’s pace sensation Ihsanullah has announced his retirement from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) following his exclusion from the HBL PSL 10 draft. The 22-year-old pacer, frustrated by the lack of recognition despite his performances, declared he will no longer participate in the franchise competition.
“I’ve been overlooked despite my past performances,” Ihsanullah said in an emotional interview. “Not a single franchise contacted me. If you perform, these franchises should come after you. But no one reached out to me.”
Ihsanullah, renowned for his blistering pace, vowed to silence his critics by returning stronger. “My goal is to make them chase after me,” he asserted. “I’ll bowl at 150-160 km/h and prove to those who doubted me that I’m not the same bowler they remember from PSL 8, when I was injured. In a month and a half, I’ll be better than ever.”
The pacer also expressed dismay over comments made by Multan Sultans’ owner, Ali Tareen, who questioned Ihsanullah’s ability to return to his peak form following elbow surgery. Tareen remarked that scarring from a prior botched surgery would prevent Ihsanullah from regaining his previous pace. “It is very sad… no matter what I do, his arm will never become perfectly straight,” Tareen said, adding, “He’ll never be able to bowl in the same way.”
Ihsanullah took these comments as a challenge. “It’s a selfish world with selfish people,” he reflected, criticizing the cricket fraternity for its lack of loyalty and support.
Announcing his departure from franchise cricket, Ihsanullah stated, “I’ve decided to retire from the PSL. I don’t want to play franchise cricket anymore. My focus now is on representing Pakistan through domestic cricket, not the PSL.”
The decision comes despite Ihsanullah’s stellar performance in PSL 8, where he claimed 22 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 15.77 and an economy rate of 7.59. However, an elbow injury during Pakistan’s ODI series against New Zealand in April 2023 forced him to take a break from competitive cricket. He recently returned in the Champions T20 Cup, managing two wickets in four matches.
The pacer also expressed disappointment with his former team, Multan Sultans, for their lack of communication and support. “No one has contacted me,” he revealed. “Ali Tareen used to support my performance, but now no one’s reached out.”
While retiring from the PSL, Ihsanullah remains committed to representing Pakistan on the international stage. In his brief international career, he has played one ODI and four T20Is, claiming six wickets in the shorter format.
Ihsanullah’s departure from the PSL marks a significant moment in his career and serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by players navigating the competitive world of franchise cricket.
