What We Know About Shamar Joseph’s Departure from Islamabad United

What Happened

Islamabad United has officially parted ways with West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph, replacing him with Zimbabwean seamer Blessing Muzarabani. Joseph was acquired during the PSL auction for his base price of PKR 11 million, but his contract has been terminated by mutual consent.

Why It Matters

The decision to release Joseph comes amid social media backlash regarding allegations of sexual misconduct against him from 2025. The franchise faced significant criticism shortly after acquiring him, prompting a reevaluation of their roster. The move to bring in Muzarabani aims to strengthen Islamabad United’s pace attack ahead of the upcoming PSL season.

What’s Next

With the PSL season set to commence on March 26, the franchise is looking to finalize its squad. Muzarabani, who has previously played in the PSL and was part of the title-winning team in 2021, is expected to join the squad soon. The decision regarding Joseph’s release is pending approval from the PSL’s technical committee, and neither the player nor the franchise plans to make a public statement on the matter.