Aiden Markram signed as a replacement for Malan for the UAE leg of IPL

England’s Dawid Malan will not be available for the UAE leg of Pakistan Super League. South African opener Aiden Markram has been signed as a replacement for Malan by Punjab Kings for the second phase of IPL.

Many England players have decided not to travel to the UAE for the showpiece event. The Indian Premier League opportunity is richly deserved for Aiden Markram, who has done well for South Africa in the T20 format this season.

On sluggish pitches in Sri Lanka, Aiden Markram accumulated 69 runs in two innings at an average of 69.00. This will Aiden Markram’s first season in the Indian Premier League after gone unsold in the previous couple of auction event.

Last year, David Malan sat on the sidelines and made only one appearance for Punjab Kings. In 13 matches played this year, Aiden Markram has shown excellent form with the bat for South Africa in the T20 format. He has accumulated 408 runs at an average of 40.80 with a strike rate of 150.00, which includes four half-centuries to his name.

Aiden Markram will be looking to make an impact with the bat in his debut season of Indian Premier League. He will be keen to make an impression for Punjab Kings in the UAE leg of the 2021 Indian Premier League.

He is expected to battle in the middle-order alongside Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal and Deepak Honda for the second phase of Indian Premier League.

Currently, Aiden Markram is playing for South Africa in the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka. He is expected to join the Punjab Kings squad after the conclusion of the T20I series against Sri Lanka. He will fly from Sri Lanka to the UAE to go through mandatory quarantine period. After completing the quarantine period, Aiden Markram is expected to be part of the final XI for the coming IPL season.