Overview
- In a video posted to his official Instagram, the Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter said he will miss the season due to personal commitments and unfinished work on his welfare foundation.
- He stated he remains available for Afghanistan at the ongoing T20 World Cup and will return home afterward to focus on foundation duties.
- Peshawar Zalmi had announced him as a direct signing on February 5 under the pre-auction allowance, creating a sudden vacancy in their plans.
- Several outlets have reported that Afghan authorities declined NOCs for players and that Naveen-ul-Haq and Mujeeb Ur Rahman discussed skipping the league, but these reports have not been officially corroborated.
- Some coverage cited PSL officials disputing talk of a withdrawal, yet Gurbaz’s on-record announcement is public; the PSL auction is on February 11 and the season runs from March 26 to May 3.