ISLAMABAD: Peshawar Zalmi may still be searching for consistency on the pitch, but off it, their management has executed a shrewd move to ensure pacer Luke Wood remains part of the squad for the remainder of PSL 2025.
The English left-armer was initially brought in on a short-term basis, but his impressive performances have made him one of the standout bowlers for the side. As a result, Zalmi’s management was determined to find a way to retain him as a permanent member of the squad.
This scenario unfolded under the tournament’s replacement player system, which allows franchises to temporarily sign players when regular squad members are unavailable due to injury, international duty, or other reasons.
Wood was initially drafted in to cover for Nahid Rana, who had been away on national duty. Now that the Bangladeshi pacer has returned, Zalmi needed to reshuffle their squad to keep hold of Wood—and they have successfully done so.
Their method was to Letting go of George Linde, who had been signed as a replacement for another overseas player, Corbin Bosch. By releasing Linde, Zalmi freed up an international slot within their roster, thereby enabling them to register Wood as one of their main overseas players.
PSL regulations
Under PSL regulations, each team is allowed a maximum of four overseas players in their matchday XI, but they can include more in the full squad if the league’s Technical Committee approves replacement requests.
Once a replaced player becomes available again, the temporary stand-in must typically be released—unless the team reconfigures its squad to accommodate the player differently, which is exactly what Zalmi have done.
Though it is a tough outcome for Linde, who only featured once, failed to score, and conceded 20 runs in two overs, the decision is a logical one. In contrast, Luke Wood has claimed six wickets in four matches, making a strong case for his continued inclusion.
Such behind-the-scenes squad manoeuvring may not grab headlines, but it can be the difference between a solid title push and a faltering campaign. In this instance, Zalmi appear to have played their cards wisely and will be hoping Wood’s retention proves pivotal in their push for the playoffs—and potentially, the trophy.
