Following Ben Duckett’s late withdrawal from IPL 2026, another England batter has stepped away from franchise commitments, this time impacting the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2026) just a day before the competition begins.
In recent weeks, several overseas players have opted out of PSL 2026, either after securing replacement deals in IPL 2026 or citing personal reasons amid tensions in the subcontinent and the Middle East.
On Tuesday evening, Duckett withdrew from what would have been his first IPL appearance, leaving Delhi Capitals to adjust their plans. The 31-year-old English wicketkeeper chose to step away to focus on his physical and mental well-being with an eye on his commitments to England.
James Vince opts out of PSL
A day after Duckett’s decision, reports indicated that England batter James Vince has also pulled out of PSL 2026. According to a team sheet shared by Multan Sultans owner Gohar Shah, the World Cup-winning batter will not be available for the full season.
Earlier this year, Vince had moved to Dubai due to safety concerns following attacks on his family home in the United Kingdom.
More Read
Uncertainty surrounding Vince’s withdrawal
Amid the conflict between Iran and Israel-US, which led to the closure of several airspaces across the Middle East, including Dubai, Vince was reportedly in the high-alert city.
Although the United States government announced a five-day ceasefire on Tuesday, there remains no confirmation on whether the English batter will continue to stay in Dubai or return to the United Kingdom.
Vince has been a familiar presence in the PSL, having represented Karachi Kings, Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans. The 2026 edition was set to mark his first season with Peshawar Zalmi, who signed him for PKR 3 crore in the auction.
Across his PSL career, Vince has featured in 56 matches, scoring 1544 runs at a strike rate close to 140. His most productive campaign came last season with Karachi Kings, when he amassed 378 runs at a strike rate of 148.23, including a career-best 101 in PSL 2025.
Why Ben Duckett withdrew from IPL 2026
Duckett explained his decision through a message on Instagram after opting out of IPL 2026 to prioritise his future with England over his Delhi Capitals contract.
“I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. I have given this a lot of thought, and it has not been an easy choice. Representing England is something I have dreamed of since I was a child, and I want to give everything I can to English cricket. To do that, I need to ensure I am in the best possible place physically and mentally ahead of the summer,” Duckett wrote.
In the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Delhi Capitals secured Duckett’s services for INR 2 crore. The wicketkeeper-opener has played 217 T20 matches but is yet to feature in the IPL. He was also part of England’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, though he did not play a match during the tournament.
