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LAHORE: Irish batter Paul Stirling has rejoined Islamabad United and is available for tonight’s HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Eliminator 2 against Lahore Qalandars.
Confirming the news, the franchise’s spokesperson said that Stirling will be available for selection tonight under PSL’s revised health and safety protocols. He has also returned a negative PCR test.
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Irish legend @stirlo90 is back in Pakistan, he has tested negative & will be available for selection.#LQvIU #HBLPSL7 #UnitedWeWin #RedHotSquad🦁 pic.twitter.com/Z69ln6BN4N
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) February 25, 2022
Before the amendment to the protocols, agreed upon by all franchises, anyone arriving from outside Pakistan would have had to quarantine for three days before being allowed to play.
The Irish cricketer had left PSL in the Karachi-leg of the tournament due to national duty. The destructive opener has made his comeback after playing five matches in the World T20 Qualifier and three matches in the Oman Quadrangular series.
He’s the second high-profile returnee for Islamabad United who initially left the bio-bubble. England batter Alex Hales departed early citing the mental fatigue of bio-bubbles, before returning for Thursday’s Eliminator against Peshawar Zalmi, with his contribution to United’s victory earning him the player of the match award.
In the five games he did play for Islamabad, however, he was averaging 37.40 with a strike rate of 181.55. With Hales in tow, the pair were the most destructive opening pair during that first leg, especially in the Powerplay.
Stirling was replaced by Liam Dawson after the former player left for international duty on February 7. He began the PSL 2022 by demonstrating a brilliant performance of making 57 off 25 against Peshawar Zalmi.