The Peshawar Zalmi team experienced one of their worst times when their main Afghan player Rahmanullah Gurbaz decided to leave the Pakistan Super League. Gurbaz made his auction decision public through a social media post because only a few days remained before the auction. The sudden move came as a shock for Zalmi, who had already drafted the aggressive opener for the upcoming season. The Afghan batter said he would not be able to take part in the PSL due to a packed schedule after the World Cup and his focus on other commitments. “After the World Cup, I won’t be available for the PSL this season due to my schedule. My foundation work in Afghanistan will become my main priority. I want to thank you for your support and affection. PAK-AFG Tensions Add to Speculation Gurbaz announced his decision, which led to rumors about political tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan being responsible for his choice. Reports indicate that the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan deteriorated after Pakistan conducted airstrikes across various Afghan territories, including Kabul and Khost and Jalalabad, during the month of October. The conflict resulted in civilian casualties while disrupting sporting relationships between the two countries. The PSL was boycotted by numerous Afghan cricketers after that incident. Naveen-ul-Haq chose to participate in County Cricket instead of joining the Pakistan-based league. Gurbaz had earlier gone against the trend by agreeing to play for Peshawar Zalmi. He changed his decision the following days before the auction, which caused people to believe that the present situation made him leave the auction. Also Read | Watch: McMullen Takes Brilliant Catch to Dismiss Hetmyer at Eden Gardens vs WI Comparison With Mustafizur Rahman Case Gurbaz’s situation has drawn comparisons with Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s recent IPL episode. Mustafizur got picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2026 season, but political unrest in Bangladesh led to pressure on the BCCI. KKR terminated his contract, which made the Bangladesh Cricket Board extremely displeased. Gurbaz's situation shows clear differences. The franchise did not release him from their contract. The Afghan batter decided to leave the PSL on his own. Could Gurbaz Face Action From PSL? The big question now is whether Gurbaz will face consequences for pulling out on his own. The situation would have faced no problem if Zalmi had released him from their team. The PSL authorities have the right to impose strict penalties because Gurbaz decided to leave after his team selected him during the draft. The PSL management might prevent him from playing in upcoming seasons because franchises determine their team composition and financial plans based on players selected during the auction. The team from Peshawar Zalmi needs to find new players while the future of Gurbaz in PSL remains uncertain.