South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch has addressed the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) legal notice, explaining his decision to withdraw from the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season in favor of joining an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise.
As expected, the Proteas cricketer cited financial security and long-term career growth as key factors behind his move.
According to details, Peshawar Zalmi had signed Bosch for the upcoming PSL 10, which is set to begin next month. However, he opted out of the tournament and joined IPL franchise Mumbai Indians instead. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled from March 22 to May 25, while PSL will take place from April 11 to May 18.
Recently, PCB had announced that it would send a legal notice to Bosch through his agent for violating the contract. Based on his response, a final decision on any action would be made. Sources revealed that on Monday, Bosch provided his explanation to Pakistani officials, stating that his decision was not meant to disrespect PSL. He said he had to prioritize his future, as Mumbai Indians are not only a strong IPL team but also have franchises in multiple other leagues, which could benefit his career significantly.
The PCB will now evaluate Bosch's explanation to determine the extent of his contract violation and what action should be taken against him. Some quarters argue that the league's credibility is paramount and that Bosch should be banned from future PSL editions as a deterrent for others.
However, others believe that imposing a ban might send a negative message to other players. Instead, they suggest a symbolic penalty to resolve the matter. The PCB is expected to make a decision in the coming days.
Following his withdrawal, Peshawar Zalmi brought in Australian middle-order batter Mitchell Owen as his replacement for the upcoming season.
Owen, who gained recognition after leading the Hobart Hurricanes to their maiden Big Bash League (BBL) title, made headlines by smashing the joint-fastest century in the final against Sydney Thunder earlier this month.
Despite registering for the PSL 2025 draft, he initially went unselected. However, the 23-year-old has now been signed in the Supplementary category.
"Supplementary draft pick. All-Rounder Mitchell Owen joins the Zalmi squad for [PSL 10]," the franchise announced on social media platforms by sharing an animated poster of the Australian batter.
The eagerly awaited 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to kick off on Friday, April 11, with defending champions Islamabad United taking on two-time winners Lahore Qalandars at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The six-team tournament will feature a total of 34 matches from April 11 to May 18. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium will host 13 matches, including the two Eliminators and the grand final.
Additionally, an exhibition match is scheduled for April 8 in Peshawar, with participating teams to be announced later.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, including the first Qualifier on May 13, while Karachi's National Bank Stadium and Multan Cricket Stadium will each host five matches.
The tournament will also include three double-headers, with two scheduled for Saturdays and one on Labour Day (May 1).
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