Pakistan fast bowler Ihsanullah has announced his retirement from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after being snubbed in the PSL 10 draft. Frustrated by being overlooked despite his strong performances, the 22-year-old has decided to step away from the premier T20 tournament, choosing instead to focus on representing Pakistan through domestic cricket.

In an honest interview with Public News, Ihsanullah opened up about his decision, clarifying that it wasn’t a rash response but a well-thought-out move after reflecting on his situation. He emphasized that his intention is no longer to participate in franchise cricket.

“I’ve chosen to retire from the PSL and distance myself from franchise cricket,” he revealed.”Moving forward, my main focus will be solely on representing Pakistan, without relying on exposure from the PSL.”

Ihsanullah had a remarkable performance in PSL 8, claiming 22 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 7.59 for Multan Sultans.

His performances earned him a place in Pakistan’s T20I squad, debuting against Afghanistan in March 2023, followed by appearances against New Zealand. He made his ODI debut during the same series but had to pause his advancement due to an elbow injury.

“I’ve been ignored despite my previous performances,” Ihsanullah commented. “Not a single franchise contacted me. If you deliver strong performances, these franchises should be the ones seeking you out. But no one reached out to me.”
Ihsanullah, known for his lightning-fast deliveries, is determined to prove his critics wrong.
He said, “My goal is to make them pursue me”. I’ll bowl at speeds of 150-160 kmph. To those who questioned my ability as a 130-135 kmph bowler, I will show that I’m stronger than ever”

His frustration was further exacerbated by comments from Multan Sultans’ owner, Ali Tareen, who questioned his ability to return to form after elbow surgery.
Tareen had commented, “No matter what steps I take, the scarring from his previous botched surgery is so severe that his arm will never straighten completely. He won’t be able to bowl the way he used to.”

Ihsanullah was deeply hurt by the lack of support from the cricketing community, expressing his disillusionment with the industry’s self-serving nature. He lamented, “This is a world full of selfish people.” Despite the challenges, he remains committed to proving his worth, vowing to return stronger than ever.