PSL 2026: Zampa explains why he opted out of IPL

Adam Zampa is one of the biggest names in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) this season, and his spot in the league came as a surprise to the leg spinner himself. Speaking to a local podcast, Zampa, who was bought by Karachi Kings for PKR 45 million, revealed he was mulling over taking a break from cricket when the opportunity to play the PSL came.

“I was planning to take a break, but then the PSL came onto the radar about a month ago,” he added. “It all happened pretty quickly, but I’m enjoying it.”

Why Zampa skipped IPL

Zampa also said he had earlier turned down playing the more cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) due to the longer timeline involved, for which he thought the remuneration was not enough.

“To be brutally honest, for someone with my skill set, the money just isn’t there compared to what’s available for other skill sets,” Zampa said. “Considering the amount of time the IPL requires, it didn’t seem like a reasonable choice for me to keep playing.”

Performance in PSL so far

In two games for Karachi, Zampa has grabbed two wickets, which includes his 2/11 spell against defending champions Lahore Qalandars in a low-scoring game. Despite a just 129-run target, Lahore took the game to the final over with their incredible bowling. Zampa praised the quality of bowling in the league, especially Shaheen Afridi, who is currently the league’s leading wicket-taker.

“Yeah, good. You know, looking at the team we played against, you can see the names in their squad and the quality, particularly of their bowling attack. It’s almost an international-quality bowling attack," he said.

"We were chasing 129, so for them to make it so close down to the wire, I think it really shows the quality of their bowling. There are definitely some good teams out there," he added.

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