Pakistan Super League: Why will Colin Munro not play PSL 2021 for Islamabad United?

Why will Colin Munro not play PSL 2021: The New Zealand batsman will now travel back to New Zealand from Australia.

Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United will have to rethink their batting strategy in the absence of star New Zealand batsman Colin Munro.

“I’m very disappointed to be missing out because Islamabad [United] were really good to me,” Munro was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Having made his PSL debut for Karachi Kings in 2019, the left-hand batsman had moved to Islamabad last year. In Munro’s absence, United will miss an in-form batsman who had scored 248 runs in eight innings at an average and strike rate of 35.43 and 147.62 respectively for them last season.

Why will Colin Munro not play PSL 2021 for Islamabad United?

Munro, who is currently representing Perth Scorchers in Big Bash League 10, was originally scheduled to travel to Pakistan directly from Australia. However, it is complication around his return back home which has forced him to miss the upcoming sixth season of the Pakistan Super League.

Anyone traveling to New Zealand has to book a quarantine place in advance as per the New Zealand government’s directive. Munro, who delayed his booking, is eligible to get a quarantine place in mid-May at the earliest.

With PSL 2021 finishing on March 22, Munro won’t be allowed entry in New Zealand until mid-May. Given a nearly eight-week long gap between the two, Munro has opted to skip PSL 2021 and return back to New Zealand from Australia itself.

ALSO WATCH: Colin Munro hits ridiculous switch-hit off Zahir Khan in BBL 10

“They [Islamabad United] retained me knowing I was going to go there straight after the Big Bash but I just couldn’t get any quarantine booked in time. The PSL finishes on the 23rd [22nd] of March and I could only get back into the country in the middle of May then another two weeks [of quarantine] on top of that.

“It’s tough, but the world the way it is maybe that’s a silver lining – spend some more time at home with the family and get ready for whatever is next,” Munro said.

In 14 BBL 2020-21 matches so far, Munro has scored 441 runs at a strike rate of 128.94 and comprising of four half-centuries. While the 33-year old player is the highest run-scorer for Scorchers, he is the fourth-highest overall this season.