As the ninth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) approaches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled the list of players retained by all six franchises for the upcoming tournament.
The ninth edition of the PSL is scheduled to kick off in February 2024.
Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have retained their captain, Shaheen Afridi, in the Platinum category. Islamabad United has successfully retained their captain, Shadab Khan, along with their top trade, Naseem Shah.
After the finalization of all trades and retentions, Multan Sultans will have the first pick in the Platinum category, following a trade between Multan and Quetta involving Iftikhar Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw. Naseem Shah’s move to Islamabad United also resulted in an exchange of picks between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators.
Shan Masood’s move to Karachi Kings led to an exchange of picks between Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans. Imad Wasim’s move to Islamabad United resulted in an exchange of picks between Islamabad United and Karachi Kings.
Each of the six teams will have the Right to Match Card, allowing them to pick any player released from their roster during the draft.
Retentions:
Lahore Qalandars (8): Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador), and David Wiese (both Diamond), Sikandar Raza, Abdullah Shafique, and Zaman Khan (all Gold), Mirza Tahir Baig (Successful relegation request), and Rashid Khan (both Silver).
Islamabad United (8): Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Wasim (Mentor) and Azam Khan (both Diamond), Faheem Ashraf (Brand Ambassador), Alex Hales and Colin Munro (all Gold), Rumman Raees (Successful relegation request in Silver).
Multan Sultans (7): Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed (both Platinum), Khushdil Shah and Usama Mir (both Diamond), Abbas Afridi (Gold), Ihsanullah (Brand Ambassador, Silver), Faisal Akram (Emerging).
Karachi Kings (8): James Vince and Hasan Ali (Diamond), Shan Masood (Brand Ambassador), Shoaib Malik (Mentor), and Tabraiz Shamsi (all Gold), Mir Hamza (Successful relegation request), and Muhammad Akhlaq (both Silver), Muhammad Irfan Khan (Emerging).
Quetta Gladiators (8): Rilee Rossouw (Platinum), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Jason Roy, and Wanindu Hasaranga (all Diamond), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Brand Ambassador) Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Hasnain (all Gold), Will Smeed (Silver).
Peshawar Zalmi (8): Babar Azam and Rovman Powell (both Platinum), Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (all Diamond), Mohammad Haris (Brand Ambassador), and Aamir Jamal (both Gold), Khurram Shahzad (Silver), Haseebullah (Emerging).
Some of the star foreign players registered in the top two categories:
Platinum: Daniel Sams, Ashton Agar (both Australia), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (all Afghanistan), Ben Duckett, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Dawid Malan, Luke Wood, Reece Topley, Tom Curran, Tymal Mills (all England), Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), James Neesham (New Zealand), Rassie van der Dussen, Imran Tahir (both South Africa), Maheesh Theekshana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (all Sri Lanka), Kieron Pollard, Romario Shepherd, Brandon King Sherfane Rutherford, and Kyle Mayers (all West Indies)
Diamond: Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi (both Afghanistan), Ben McDermott (Australia), Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahmudullah (all Bangladesh), Dan Lawrence, Gus Atkinson, Jordan Cox, Liam Dawson, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Richard Gleeson, Sam Hain (all England), Tim Seifert, Martin Guptill, Chad Bowes (all New Zealand), George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Reeza Hendricks, Wayne Parnell, Sisanda Magala (all South Africa), Dilshan Madushanka, Charith Asalanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Sadeera Samarawickrama (all Sri Lanka), Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Rahkeem Cornwall, Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Hayden Walsh (all West Indies).
