Karachi Kings called up fast bowler Akif Javed to replace Mir Hamza, who was ruled out of the tournament due to a fractured finger, for the remainder of Pakistan Super League season 8.Hamza fractured the index figure of his bowling hand during his side’s opening match against Peshawar Zalmi at the National Bank Cricket Arena.

The left-arm fast attempted to stop Babar Azam’s straight drive in his follow through on the fourth ball of the second over and the ball ricocheted off his hand onto the non-striker’s stumps that sent Saim Ayub back to the pavilion as he was out of his crease. He could bowl another eight ball in the match and finished with the match figures of one for 13 in two overs. He had dismissed Mohammad Haris two balls prior to the incident. In a contest that swung like pendulum, Peshawar Zalmi came out victorious by mere two runs.

Akif Javed has previously been part of Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United squads. The left-arm fast bowler has 33 T20 wickets in 31 matches and bowls at an economy of 8.48. It is pertinent to mention that the Kings will lock horns with Islamabad United in their second PSL 8 fixture on Thursday.

Karachi Kings Squad: Imad Wasim (c), Sharjeel Khan, Matthew Wade (wk), Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Qasim Akram, Ben Cutting, Andrew Tye, Imran Tahir, Akif Javed, Mohammad Amir. James Vince, Tabraiz Shamsi, Aamer Yamin, Muhammad Umer, James Fuller, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Akhlaq (wk), Musa Khan, Irfan Khan Niazi.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP