The Quetta Gladiators have signed Sri Lanka all-rounder Thishara Perera and England fast bowler Jade Dernbach for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament in the UAE.
Surrey paceman Dernbach replaces West Indies star Jason Holder, who is forced to miss the event after his NOC request was rejected by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
As far as the double signings are concerned, it has been clarified that both have been signed on a partial availability basis.
Perera will be with the side for the initial stage of the event but will leave once the series between India and Sri Lanka begins in mid-February.
Welcome @PereraThisara and @Jwd_16 the new gladiators. Excited times ahead. Both signed on partial availability #PSL #QuettaGladiators
— Quetta Gladiators (@TeamQuetta) January 14, 2016Once Perera is on international duty, Dernbach will arrive to strengthen the Gladiators’ pace attack.
Head Coach Moin Khan is delighted with the double signings and believes both men are capable of winning matches on their day.
“It’s a smart business from Quetta Gladiators to bring in two quality players in place of Holder and this move has only helped in making our team stronger,” Khan said.
“Both are match-winners in their own right when it’s their day and hopefully they will contribute in the team’s success. I welcome them into the side and looking forward to working with them.”
Thanks. Omer Associates for making @TeamQuetta more and more stronger. A very intelligent decision it is. :) https://t.co/by6JEvDrh8
— Mirwaise Ahmed Khan (@Mirwaise_Ahmed) January 14, 2016Perera is an important part of Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20I sides and has played six Tests, 110 ODIS and 42 T20Is for his country.
The 26-year-old, who has turned out in the IPL, Big Bash, SLPL and CPL previously, has also played 141 domestic short-form matches in which he has picked up 130 wickets and scored 1569 runs with two fifties to his name.
On the other hand, Dernbach has 117 scalps from 108 domestic T20 matches with two four-wicket hauls while he has played 24 ODIs and 34 T20Is for England.
Gladiators boast a star-studded squad for the PSL with Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright, Sri Lanka superstar Kumar Sangakkara, Afghanistan’s Mohammab Nabi and Pakistan’s very own stars Ahmad Shahzad, Sarfaraz Ahmad, Anwar Ali, Umar Gul, Asad Shafiq and Zulfiqar Babar all featuring.
The PSL will be played from February 4-23 in Dubai and Sharjah.
