Punjab Kings star cricketer will only be able to join the squad on March 20 ahead of side’s opening game of IPL 2025 against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Bollywood star Preity Zinta co-owned Punjab Kings will open their campaign in the IPL 2025 season with a clash against former champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 25. But ahead of their opening game of IPL 2025 they have some cause of concern as star all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai from Afghanistan is yet to arrive in India and join with the team.
Omarzai is expected to be top player for PBKS, having being picked as ICC ODI Player of the Year recently and has been in fine form in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament as well. The Afghan all-rounder, who turned out for Gujarat Titans last season, was bought by PBKS for Rs 2.4 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year.
This season marks the beginning of a new era for the franchise, with Shreyas Iyer taking over as captain and Ricky Ponting stepping in as head coach. Ponting recently joined the squad in Dharamsala.
The Indian contingent, including new recruit Yuzvendra Chahal, arrived in Chandigarh on Sunday night after wrapping up a training camp in Dharamsala, where Punjab Kings will play three of their home games this season. Lead pacer Arshdeep Singh and skipper Iyer, both part of India’s victorious Champions Trophy squad, have also linked up with the team following a week-long break.
– checked in! #ShreyasIyer #IPL2025 #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/CVr5KFjnkx
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 17, 2025
“Omarzai has a personal matter to attend to and will be in India by May 20. The rest of the foreign players will start arriving from today,” an IPL source was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.
After leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL title last season, Iyer will be tasked with reviving Punjab Kings, who have struggled for over a decade. The squad boasts a strong all-rounder lineup, including Marco Jansen, Omarzai, Marcus Stoinis, and Glenn Maxwell, who makes his return to the franchise.
Nathan Ellis yet to join CSK too
Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed on Monday that Australian pacer Nathan Ellis is the only overseas player yet to join the squad.
“All others, including Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, are already here. Nathan will be joining soon,” he said.
Among Indian stars, Ravindra Jadeja has linked up with the team, along with the recently retired R Ashwin, who returns to CSK after a decade.
At Gujarat Titans, captain Shubman Gill joined the squad on Sunday night, while New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips is expected to arrive by Tuesday. “Glenn will be here soon,” a source confirmed.
