Jake Fraser-McGurk was with DC in IPL 2024 & 2025. Credits - afp.com
The upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2026) is just two moons away from its inaugural match. But all eight franchises are still making a few last-minute amends to make themselves a well-oiled machine for the big season.
For the PSL 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has added two more teams, allowing more talent to be displayed. However, the introduction of more teams means more injuries, more players missing out due to personal reasons and whatnot.
Various PSL-contracted players have dropped out of plans after getting deals from the IPL teams, with the latest incident being the Sri Lankan T20I captain Dasun Shanaka dropping out of Lahore Qalandars to be with Rajasthan Royals.
RawalPindiz sign Cole McConchie for PSL 2026
Recently, newly-tinted RawalPindiz have signed a lucrative deal with New Zealand’s Cole McConchie after Jake Fraser-McGurk, but due to personal reasons, not for IPL. McConchie was earlier a part of the New Zealand squad that played the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
It is worth mentioning that Cole McConchie was dropped from New Zealand playing XI in the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup against India.
Interestingly, Jake Fraser-McGurk was with the Delhi Capitals in previous two editions, but the young Australia batter went unsold in the mini-auction before the IPL 2026.
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The right-arm off-spinner could play only four games in the T20 World Cup, but he was an impact player, taking 2/9 in the semifinal against South Africa. Currently, he is with the Blackcaps as a part of the squad for the ongoing five-match series against the Proteas.
The 34-year-old Cole McConchie, who made his international debut in Pakistan back in 2023, has ample experience playing the T20 format. He has played 141 games, playing mainly in Super Smash and T20 Blast. Overall, he has snapped 88 T20 wickets at an economy of 7.63, plus he is a useful lower-order batter with over 2000 runs in the shortest format.
Is Usman Khawaja also getting signed?
Reportedly, the franchise is looking to pen a deal with the Pakistan-origin Usman Khawaja, who recently retired from Australia after the Ashes. However, there is no official update on Khawaja’s signing.
Earlier, the RawalPindiz franchise owner, Ahsan Tahir, had hinted that the league would sign an overseas player to shake the entire PSL.
“We will sign an international player as a replacement who will shake up the entire PSL,” RawalPindiz owner had told Relukattay.
Fans have already started drawing parallels to RawalPindiz’s alleged deal with the former Australian batter, who leads the Brisbane Heat in the BBL.
The 39-year-old left-handed opener has featured in 121 T20 matches to amass 3400 runs at a strike rate of 131.32, including three hundreds and 17 half-centuries in the format. Overall, he has played nine T20Is for Australia.
How does RawalPindiz look ahead of PSL 2026?
Having said that, RawalPindiz have selected a strong squad for their maiden season in the PSL. With experienced Mohammad Rizwan at the helm, they have a strong core in Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings and Laurie Evans.
RawalPindiz will kickstart their campaign in the PSL 2026, with the clash against the Peshawar Zalmi on March 28 at Lahore.
RawalPindiz squad for PSL 2026: Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Sam Billings (wk), Yasir Khan, Abdullah Fazal, Shahzaib Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Laurie Evans, Cole McConchie, Asif Afridi, Amad Butt, Kamran Ghulam, Dian Forrester, Saad Masood, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Rishad Hossain, Zaman Khan, Fawad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Jalat Khan
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