“I completely boycott it and retire” - Pakistan pacer announces shock decision after PSL 2025 snub

Pakistan pacer Ihsanullah has announced his retirement from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after being snubbed in the draft on Monday, January 13. The 22-year-old voiced his anger and frustration at finding no buyers and said he would never participate in the PSL.

Picking up 22 wickets at an average of 15.77 and an economy of 7.59 in 12 outings, Ihsanullah was the star bowler for the Multan Sultans in their runners-up finish at PSL 2023. The stellar performances earned the speedster a call-up to the Pakistan ODI and T20I sides for the Afghanistan and New Zealand series.

However, an elbow injury sustained during the New Zealand series forced the youngster to miss significant time, including the 2024 PSL season.

Talking about being snubbed in the PSL 2025 draft, Ihsanullah said [via Geo Super]:

"Not a single franchise contacted me. I just don’t want to play franchise cricket anymore. It’s over after today. I completely boycott it and retire from the PSL. I won’t be seen in the PSL again. I want to represent Pakistan by performing in domestic cricket, not by playing in the PSL."

He added:

"If you perform, these franchises will come after you. My goal is to make them chase after me, and I need to perform like that. I’ll bowl at a pace of 150-160, and those who have said I’m a 130-135 bowler, in one and a half months, I’ll show them that I wasn’t the same bowler who played in PSL 8 and got injured. I’ll look much better than that."

Ihsanullah returned to action in the recently concluded Champions T20 Cup but looked far from his former self, picking up only two wickets in four matches at an average of 62.50 and an economy of 11.19.

"You know this world is selfish" - Ihsanullah

Ihsanullah also had a few strong words for Multan Sultans' owner Ali Tareen, who had questioned the pacer's ability to bowl as effectively as he did before the elbow injury. The 22-year-old was part of the franchise for two seasons in 2022 and 2023.

Tareen said (via Geo Super):

"It is a very sad development, but we got Ihsanullah consulted with a top surgeon, who gave us some really bad news, saying that ‘Guys, I can do the surgery, but no matter what I do, there is so much scarring from his previously botched surgery that his arm will never become perfectly straight, and he will never be able to bowl in the same way because he does not have a straight arm.'"

When asked about these comments, Ihsanullah responded:

"No one has contacted me; you know this world is selfish. When someone else finds another person, they go with them. He [Ali Tareen] used to support my performance and talent."

Ihsanullah has played four T20Is and a lone ODI for Pakistan, picking up a total of six wickets.