![Punjab Kings star's mother passes away [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1777286022670_PunjabKingsstar'smotherpassesaway.jpg?type=hq)
Punjab Kings star's mother passes away [Source: AFP]
Punjab Kings have been the team to beat in the ongoing IPL 2026, remaining the only undefeated team at the halfway stage. The side has hardly put a foot wrong in the IPL, and the Shreyas Iyer-led squad is the firm favourite to clinch the championship this year.
Everything has been going right for the franchise on the field, but off the field, tragic news has hit the PBKS camp, shaking the entire squad. Azmatullah Omarzai, the Afghan all-rounder, who plays for the Punjab Kings, lost his mother on Monday, and it has put his IPL continuation in jeopardy.
Omarzai's mentor pens heartfelt message on social media
Asghar Afghan, the former Afghanistan skipper, broke the news via his X account on Monday afternoon. Over the years, Asghar Afghan has mentored Azmatullah Omarzai, and the former captain penned down a heartfelt message on social media.
"With profound sorrow, we have received the news that the respected mother of our friend Nawab Khan Omarzai and talented player of the national team, Azmatullah Omarzai, Bibi, has closed her eyes to this mortal world.
May Allah the Almighty grant the late departed the paradise of Firdaws, and bestow upon the respected family beautiful patience and immense reward.
Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return."
Will Omarzai stay with Punjab Kings for remainder of IPL 2026?
Omarzai has been a part of the Punjab Kings squad since the 2025 IPL season, and while he played 9 matches in last year’s IPL, the Afghan all-rounder is yet to play a single match for the PBKS side in IPL 2026.
The Punjab Kings boast one of the strongest teams in the entire league, and their playing combination is such that the all-rounder has found it hard to break through their playing XI.
Eight matches into the IPL 2026 campaign, Punjab has hardly made any change in their playing XI, and with their winning streak going on, it is highly unlikely that they’ll make a change in the near future.
The player will certainly fly back to Afghanistan, and his availability for the remainder of the IPL will be known after a couple of days.
Also Read: RCB Issue Statement On Punjab Kings' World Record Chase In IPL
Omarzai's not so great IPL journey so far
Omarzai, the talented Afghanistan all-rounder, first played for the Gujarat Titans, and he made his IPL debut in the 2024 edition.
Omarzai, the talented Afghanistan all-rounder, first played for the Gujarat Titans, and he made his IPL debut in the 2024 edition. In IPL 2024, the player featured in 7 matches, and scored just 42 runs, with a strike rate of 127.
In the same campaign, he only scalped 4 wickets, as the Afghanistan player had an average IPL 2024 season with both bat and ball.
In the next season, Punjab Kings came calling, and with the bat, he scored just 57 runs, with a strike rate of 139. However, he impressed with the ball, taking 8 wickets, with an economy of 10.33.
Also Read: ICC Rule On Obstructing The Field Explained: Was Angkrish Raghuvanshi Given Out Fairly?
