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Peshawar Zalmi suffered a major blow as Rahmanullah Gurbaz officially withdrew from the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) ahead of the much awaited player auction.
The Afghanistan wicketkeeper batter withdrew only days after being announced by the franchise as its key overseas signing on February 5 this week.
Zalmi owner Javed Afridi had confirmed the development on social media, welcoming Gurbaz to the Zalmi family as the franchise began shaping its squad.
Sharing an update on social media, the 24 years old confirmed his withdrawal from the upcoming PSL, citing personal commitments and scheduling priorities.
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After the announcement, many fans expressed concern about recent Pakistan Afghanistan relations and ongoing security sensitivities affecting cricket ties.
Citing post T20 World Cup 2026 commitments, Gurbaz said he plans to devote time to his foundation supporting youth cricket development in Afghanistan.
It is worth noting that last week, Zalmi retained Babar Azam in the Platinum category and Sufiyan Muqeem in the Diamond group as part of their early retention strategy.
Abdul Samad was kept in the Gold category, while 17 years old pacer Ali Raza was retained in the Emerging group ahead of the upcoming first ever auction.
