Karachi Kings have signed former England opener Jason Roy as a replacement for Muhammad Waseem in PSL 2026. The franchise announced the replacement after Waseem and Khuzaima bin Tanveer were called up by UAE for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 matches in Nepal.
“Known for his fearless striking and vast experience in the T20 circuit, Roy is no stranger to the PSL, where he has consistently been one of the most destructive overseas batters. His arrival is set to bolster the Kings’ top order as the tournament enters its most critical phase,” a Kings statement said.
Roy has played in six PSL editions since the inaugural one in 2016, and has represented Lahore Qalandars (2016) and Quetta Gladiators (2017-2024). He holds the record for the highest individual score in the tournament – 145 not out from 63 balls, against Peshawar Zalmi in Rawalpindi in 2023. Overall, Roy has made 1260 runs in the PSL at a strike rate of 146.51, with two centuries and eight half-centuries.
Kings have lost their last two matches, after starting this season with three consecutive wins. It means they are yet to win a match since the tournament moved to Karachi. Their openers have largely struggled to get going, and Kings would hope Roy’s inclusion changes that.
Waseem could score only 86 runs in five matches. His opening partner in four of those matches, David Warner, has only 93 runs in four innings with 50 of them coming in one innings. Reeza Hendricks, who opened with Waseem in Kings’ last match on April 11 against Hyderabad Kingsmen, could score only two from four balls.
Kings currently sit fourth on the points table and play their next match against Islamabad United on April 16.
