Reece Topley, the English fast bowler, is among the three acquisitions revealed by MI Emirates before the ILT20 playoffs. The team, leading the league stage, has also enlisted the services of Sri Lankan batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa and USA captain Monank Patel.
The left-arm fast bowler recently participated in Durban’s Super Giants’ SA20 and significantly contributed to the team finishing as runners-up. He was supposed to join Multan Sultans in the upcoming PSL 2024 season starting on February 17.
Unfortunately, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declined to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) citing an apparent injury.
“[Topley] hasn’t received his NOC [no-objection certificate from England] and is out of the PSL,” Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen had posted on X (formerly Twitter) recently.
Multan Sultans are urgently seeking a replacement as the season approaches in a few days. Reports suggest they are contemplating recruiting Englishman Olly Stone, following unsuccessful attempts to acquire Nandre Burger and Dushmantha Chameera.
In an unexpected twist, MI Emirates officially announced three signings, including Topley, as injury replacements and a second wild-card pick.
“MI Emirates announced the signing of Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Reece Topley and Monank Patel on Tuesday (February 13) ahead of Qualifier 1 of ILT20 Season 2.”
“While Topley and Monank have joined the team as replacements for Fazalhaq Farooqi and Corey Anderson respectively, Rajapaksa joins the team as second Wild Card entry for the season,” the MI Emirates’ official statement read.
PSL is facing challenges with player availability for the 2024 season, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) is expected to withdraw the NOCs for centrally contracted players during the domestic T20 league.
Consequently, players like Tabraiz Shamsi and Rassie van der Dussen will only participate in the first half of the tournament.
MI Emirates, strengthened by Topley and the others, are set to compete against the Gulf Giants on February 14th
Having won six out of their ten group-stage matches, MI Emirates will take on the defending champions, the Gulf Giants, on February 14 at the Dubai International Stadium to compete for a place in the ILT20 2024 final.
The ILT20 playoffs kicked off with the Eliminator match between the Dubai Capitals and the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, with the former emerging victorious and earning a spot in the second qualifier.
MI Emirates’ New Team for ILT20 Playoffs
Akeal Hosein, Ambati Rayudu, Andre Fletcher, Monank Patel, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Mousley, Dwayne Bravo, Reece Topley, Jordan Thompson, Nosthush Kenjige, Kusal Perera, McKenny Clarke, Muhammad Waseem, Nicholas Pooran (c), Odean Smith, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Waqar Salamkheil, Trent Boult, Will Smeed, Zahoor Khan, Tim David, Kieron Pollard, Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
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