South Africa star batter Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 season after failing to fully recover from a thumb injury.
The 41-year-old was also ruled out midway through the SA20 2025–26 season earlier this month after suffering a ligament tear in his right thumb.
Reports suggest du Plessis has not fully recovered and will require surgery, sidelining him from competitive cricket for the foreseeable future.
His absence from PSL 2026 is a major blow to the league and its fans, as it deprives the tournament of one of its most high-profile overseas players.
Earlier, du Plessis had opted out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction after being released by the Delhi Capitals. Instead, he chose to commit to the PSL 2026 season, signaling a return to Pakistan’s T20 competition after a five-year gap.
Du Plessis last featured in the PSL during the 2021 season, representing the Quetta Gladiators. Across two PSL seasons, he has played just six matches for two franchises, Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi.
In five innings, the South African batter scored 107 runs at an average of 21.40, with a strike rate of 122.98.
In addition, du Plessis also enjoyed a distinguished career for South Africa, scoring 4,163 runs in Tests, 1,507 runs in ODIs, and 1,527 runs in T20 internationals.
