Paul Stirling and Faf du Plessis among five Pakistan Super League overseas replacements

Fawad Ahmed, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Ali Khan have also been picked up late ahead of the beginning of the tournament

Faf du Plessis and Paul Stirling are among five overseas players who have been signed up as replacements by Pakistan Super League franchises ahead of the tournament, which begins on Saturday.

Australian leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, USA seamer Ali Khan and English batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore have also earned late call-ups, with international commitments rendering some initial draft picks unavailable – either partially or for the entire tournament.

Former South Africa captain du Plessis made his PSL debut in last year’s playoffs for Peshawar Zalmi, and he joins Quetta Gladiators as a partial replacement for Chris Gayle.

Ireland vice-captain Stirling, meanwhile, joins an Islamabad United squad also featuring English top order options in Phil Salt and Alex Hales. He is one of three players signed as a result of England’s five-match T20I series against India. Stirling replaces of Chris Jordan and Khan comes in for Reece Topley – both at Islamabad United.

Colin Munro was also due to be part of Islamabad’s squad, but isolation complications related to Covid-19 have ruled him out, with Ahmed picked up to fill his void.

For Peshawar Zalmi, Kohler-Cadmore replaces Liam Livingstone, who is also part of England’s T20I group.