PSL 2026: Brian Bennett replaces James Vince at Peshawar Zalmi

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 begins this evening and the last-minute squad changes are still taking place. Peshawar Zalmi have added Zimbabwe opening batter Brian Bennett as replacement for James Vince who has decided against playing this season due to personal reasons.

Vince has been a part of the PSL since his first season in 2015-16. The Englishman has played for three franchises - Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Quetta Gladiators - with Zalmi slated to be his fourth until the latest development. The 35-year-old was sold for PKR 30 million in the first-ever auction of the league last month. As for the right-hander's record in the league, Vince has scored 1544 runs from 56 matches at an average of 29.69 and a strike rate of 139.35.

Meanwhile, the batter who has replaced Vince is in terrific form of late. Bennett finished as the sixth-highest run-scorer in the T20 World Cup with 292 runs from six innings scored at an average of 146 and a strike rate of 134.56. The opener's contributions and presence at the crease helped majorly in Zimbabwe overcoming the challenges from the big teams and qualifying for the Super Eights.

Bennett has carried his good form into the Pro50 Championship which is the premier 50-over tournament in Zimbabwe. The right-hander scored a scintillating 134* for the Mountaineers against the Eagles and picked up two wickets too in the only match that he played.

Talking about the Zalmis, they begin their campaign against Rawalpindi Pindiz on Saturday, March 28 in an afternoon game. The franchise would be itching to come back to their usual standards this season after finishing at the penultimate spot last year. The team has not tasted the ultimate success since the 2017 season and have been runners-up thrice since then.

Zalmi will be led by Babar Azam and the squad comprises key players such as Kusal Mendis, Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, among others.