Peshawar Zalmi have confirmed the return of England’s left-arm fast bowler Luke Wood for the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), set to begin on April 11. The franchise announced Wood’s comeback with a creative animated poster on social media, captioning it, “Welcome back, Luke Wood. England fast bowler is back to charge in for Zalmi at PSL 10.”
Wood, known for his aggressive new-ball bowling, had a decent outing for Zalmi last season, taking 13 wickets in 12 matches with an average of 30.30 and best figures of 2/13. His inclusion comes as a partial replacement for Bangladesh’s emerging pacer Nahid Rana, whose availability is uncertain due to Bangladesh’s home Test series against Zimbabwe during the early stages of the PSL.
This signing follows Zalmi’s recent acquisition of South African all-rounder George Linde, who replaces Corbin Bosch in the Diamond category after Bosch opted to join the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Updated Peshawar Zalmi Squad for PSL 10
- Platinum: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore
- Diamond: Mohammad Haris, George Linde, Mohammad Ali
- Gold: Hussain Talat, Nahid Rana, Abdul Samad
- Silver: Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, Najibullah Zadran
- Emerging: Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat
- Supplementary: Mitchell Owen, Ahmed Daniyal, Alzarri Joseph
PSL 10 Kickoff and Zalmi’s Campaign
The six-team tournament will be played across Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, with the final scheduled for May 18 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Tickets for PSL 10 went on sale online from Thursday, with physical sales starting from April 7.
Zalmi, the 2017 PSL champions, will begin their campaign with a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Quetta Gladiators on April 12. The two sides were also set to play an exhibition match at Arbab Niaz Stadium on April 8, but the fixture was postponed by the PCB, with a new date yet to be announced.
Babar Azam’s Role Under Scrutiny Ahead of PSL
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, now part of Zalmi’s Platinum category, remains under scrutiny for his T20 strike rate. Despite being the second-highest run-scorer in T20Is, Babar has faced criticism for his slow scoring, leading to his exclusion from 9 of Pakistan’s last 14 T20Is following the 2024 T20 World Cup group-stage exit.
However, the PCB reportedly still considers him a key player for the 2025 Asia Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup, albeit in a middle-order role to accommodate younger openers like Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Fakhar Zaman. His performance in PSL 10 could determine his future in Pakistan’s T20 setup.
With fresh signings and a strong core, Peshawar Zalmi aim to reclaim their PSL glory, and Wood’s return could provide the X-factor they need.
