ISLAMABAD: Karachi Kings included leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood in their PSL 9 squad as a full replacement for wicketkeeper batter Saad Baig.

Baig suffered a groin strain and has been advised to go through rehab by the medical panel.

The rehabilitation process of the young wicketkeeper has been started, owing to the medical panel’s advice that without complete rehab, there is a risk of this injury getting worse.

Saad Baig will remain with the Karachi Kings squad and continue his rehab process.

Meanwhile, Zahid Mehmood, who was included in Karachi Kings’ squad for the PSL 9 as a partial replacement initially, will now replace Baig in the squad for the complete season.

Mehmood has played two games for Karachi Kings and picked two wickets in the ongoing season.

Karachi Kings are currently sitting in the fifth position in the points table with four points in five matches after their 20-run defeat against leaders Multan Sultans at the iconic National Bank Stadium yesterday.

The 20-run victory meant Multan Sultans became the first team to qualify for the Playoffs in the ongoing ninth edition of the marquee league.

Chasing a mammoth 190, the Kings could accumulate 169 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

The home side got off to an unwanted start to the pursuit as they lost two wickets — Tim Seifert (1) and James Vince (7) — inside the batting powerplay with just 28 runs on the board.

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Following the slump, skipper Shan Masood partnered with Shoaib Malik to anchor the run chase briefly.

The pair batted sensibly and added 53 runs for the third wicket before Usama Mir dismissed Masood in the 10th over to dent Kings’ recovery.

Masood scored an anchoring 36 off 29 deliveries, hitting five boundaries.

Malik then put together a brief partnership with Leus du Plooy (12) before both fell in successive overs, resulting in the Kings slipping to 99/5 in 13 overs.

Veteran all-rounder Malik top-scored for the Kings with a 28-ball 38 which featured five boundaries.

The Kings then lost another wicket in the 17th over when Muhammad Irfan Khan returned after scoring a 19-ball 23.

Hasan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz offered valuable resistance in the death over with a brilliant 41-run partnership which lasted on the penultimate delivery but the Kings fell short of tasting their third victory in the PSL 9.

Hasan scored a brisk 17 off eight deliveries while Nawaz remained unbeaten with a 17-ball 27, featuring three boundaries and a six.

For the Sultans, Usama Mir bagged two wickets while David Willey, Chris Jordan, Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Ali struck out a batter apiece.

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