Mahmudullah, Sabbir, Fizz set to depart for PSL T20

Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah, batsman Sabbir Rahman and left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman are scheduled to fly off to the UAE for the third edition of the Pakistan Super League T20. Though the cricketers were supposed to leave Monday, delay over visa meant they had to depart later than the scheduled date. Mahmudullah was retained by Quetta Gladiators while Mustafizur will make his appearance for Lahore Qalandars in the tournament, featuring six sides with the inclusion of Multan Sultans as the new franchise. Meanwhile, opener Tamim Iqbal, set to play for Peshawar Zalmi alongside Sabbir, was awaiting visa approval when this report was filed. It is understood that Tamim will take the next available flight as soon as his PSL franchise provide him the supporting papers for the visa.

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Also read: Tamim returns to Peshawar, Lahore pick Mustafiz

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Meanwhile, all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, who was retained by Zalmi for the season, will not participate in the initial phase of the competition. Shakib is currently recovering from finger injury incurred during the tri-nation ODI series in January this year. And by the time he fully recovers, he will need to be with the Bangladesh team in Sri Lanka for the Nidahas Trophy 2018. The Bangladesh cricketers were given No Objection Certificate only till March 4 and are to directly report to the national team in Colombo. The Tigers are set to travel to Sri Lanka on March 4 for the Nidahas tri-nation T20I series involving India and the home side. It is understood that the Bangladesh cricketers can then join their respective PSL sides following the tour of Sri Lanka.