Faf du Plessis is the highest-profile new name drafted in for the playoff stage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 to be played in Karachi, with the former South Africa captain set to represent the Peshawar Zalmi.

A number of players originally part of the squads of the PSL franchises that made the last four remained unavailable due to international commitments. As a result, the PCB has drafted in multiple fresh names to take the count of foreign players who will arrive in Pakistan, to 21. Out of these, 13 are from England and South Africa, while Tamim Iqbal also remains a notable inclusion, with the former Zalmi opener to pad up for the Lahore Qalandars this time.

Alex Hales was suspected to have contracted Covid-19 during the PSL's original schedule in March this year, something that remained unconfirmed until the tournament was called off. However, it had led to the playoffs being cancelled just an hour before they began, though Hales is set to return to the tournament for the Kings this time. He will be joined by team-mate James Vince, though Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan will be unavailable, with the pair due to take part in England's T20I series in South Africa.

The knockout stage, though, has reverted to the playoffs format, which means four matches will be played instead of three as was decided in March, when the PSL had shortened the format in a bid to conclude it earlier with the Covid-19 pandemic beginning to take hold. That means the Multan Sultans will play the Kings with the winner directly qualifying for the final, with the loser to battle for the second spot in the final against the winner of the Qalandars and Zalmi game.

"I am very excited to join Peshawar Zalmi for the playoff stage games of HBL PSL 2020," du Plessis said. "I have fond memories of playing in Pakistan when I toured with the ICC World XI in 2017 and I am sure this experience, although different due to Covid-19, will be a memorable one as well."

Among the other notable misses will be Kieron Pollard, with West Indies' tour of New Zealand clashing with the PSL. Pollard is the player du Plessis has replaced, while Sherfane Rutherford has slotted into the Kings squad for Jordan.

The playoff games have been scheduled from November 14 to 16, with the final on November 17.

Karachi Kings: Aamer Yamin, Alex Hales (England), Arshad Iqbal, Awais Zia, Babar Azam, Cameron Delport (South Africa), Chadwick Walton (West Indies), Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mitchell McClenaghan (New Zealand), Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Sharjeel Khan, Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Umaid Asif, Umer Khan, Usama Mir and Waqas Maqsood

Lahore Qalandars: Abid Ali, Agha Salman, Ben Dunk (Australia), Dane Vilas (South Africa), David Wiese (South Africa), Dilbar Hussain, Fakhar Zaman, Farzan Raja, Haris Rauf, Jaahid Ali, Maaz Khan, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Hafeez, Samit Patel (England), Shaheen Afridi, Sohail Akhtar, Tamim Iqbal (Bangladesh) and Usman Shinwari

Multan Sultans: Adam Lyth (England), Ali Shafiq, Bilawal Bhatti, Imran Tahir (South Africa), James Vince (England), Junaid Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mahmudullah (Bangladesh), Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Irfan, Ravi Bopara (England), Rilee Rossouw (South Africa), Rohail Nazir, Shan Masood, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Usman Qadir and Zeeshan Ashraf

Peshawar Zalmi: Aamir Ali, Adil Amin, Carlos Brathwaite (West Indies), Daren Sammy (West Indies), Faf du Plessis (South Africa), Haider Ali Khan, Hardus Viljoen (South Africa), Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Khurram Shehzad, Liam Livingstone (England), Mohammad Mohsin, Rahat Ali, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah