In anticipation of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 9, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rolled out the list of retained players from all six franchises. The tournament is set to kick off its ninth edition in February 2024.
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Among the notable retentions, Lahore Qalandars secured their captain, Shaheen Afridi, in the Platinum category, maintaining a strong foundation for their title defense. Islamabad United, on the other hand, successfully retained Shadab Khan as their skipper, along with the promising Naseem Shah in the top-tier.
After finalizing trades and retentions, Multan Sultans clinched the coveted first pick in the Platinum category. A series of strategic moves included the trade of players like Iftikhar Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw between Multan and Quetta, shaping up the squads for an exciting season ahead.
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The player shuffles also led to interesting exchanges in picks, adding a layer of unpredictability to the team compositions. For instance, Naseem Shah’s move to Islamabad United triggered an exchange of first-round Platinum picks with Quetta Gladiators, creating new dynamics in team strategies.
In the Silver category, Shan Masood’s switch to Karachi Kings resulted in a swap of picks with Multan Sultans, showcasing the ripple effect of player movements. Islamabad United’s acquisition of Imad Wasim led to another exchange, this time involving Silver picks with Karachi Kings.
Notably, Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators are tasked with selecting a local player in the Platinum category, adding a local flavor to their lineups.
As the draft approaches, each franchise holds a Right to Match Card, providing them the flexibility to reclaim any released player from their roster, adding an element of suspense to the selection process.
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).
