PSL 10: Franchises Reveal Player Retentions Ahead of Upcoming Draft

LAHORE: The excitement for Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 is building up as all six franchises revealed their retentions for the highly anticipated Players Draft, which is set to take place on January 11, 2025. Each franchise was permitted to retain up to eight players from their previous squad, and some teams made full use of their retention slots, while others opted for fewer.

Islamabad United The defending champions, Islamabad United, made strategic retentions, keeping their star players from last season. Captain Shadab Khan, who was also named the player of the tournament in the previous edition, and the promising fast bowler Naseem Shah have both been retained in the Platinum category. Imad Wasim, also named the mentor of the team, alongside wicketkeeper Azam Khan, will feature in the Diamond category.

Additionally, talented all-rounder Salman Ali Agha, along with explosive batter Haider Ali, have been retained in the Gold category. Former New Zealand opener Colin Munro and veteran pacer Rumman Raees will play in the Silver category, rounding off Islamabad’s squad.

Multan Sultans Multan Sultans, who were the runners-up in the previous season, have kept their core intact, with captain Mohammad Rizwan and the standout leg-spinner Usama Mir in the Platinum category. The dynamic English all-rounder David Willey, who will be playing his fourth PSL edition, along with Iftikhar Ahmed and opening batter Usman Khan, have been retained in the Diamond category.

England’s Chris Jordan, an experienced campaigner, has been retained in the Gold category, while young wrist-spinner Faisal Akram will feature in the Silver category. Willey will also serve as the mentor for the Sultans.

Peshawar Zalmi Peshawar Zalmi, one of the most consistent franchises in PSL history, have retained their key players, including captain Babar Azam and dynamic opening batter Saim Ayub in the Platinum category. Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris has been retained in the Diamond category.

Spin bowlers Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, and Sufyan Moqim have been retained in the Silver category, with Sufyan also named the brand ambassador of Zalmi. Fast-bowling sensation Ali Raza, fresh off his impressive performance in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, has been retained in the Emerging category.

Quetta Gladiators Quetta Gladiators have held on to their experienced players, including South African batter Rilee Rossouw, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, and seasoned pacer Mohammad Amir. All three have been retained in the Diamond category, with Amir also taking on the mentor role for the team.

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Akeal Hosein, ranked the No.1 T20I bowler, alongside the in-form Saud Shakeel, have been placed in the Gold category. Youngsters Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and Usman Tariq, both promising talents, will play in the Silver category.

Karachi Kings Karachi Kings, one of the most popular franchises in the PSL, have retained two experienced players in the Diamond category—Hasan Ali and English batter James Vince. Skipper Shan Masood, along with emerging talent Muhammad Irfan Khan, who was one of the standout fielders of the previous season, have been retained in the Gold category.

The Kings also secured the services of rising star Arafat Minhas, who has been named the team’s brand ambassador, while spinner Zahid Mehmood and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert have been placed in the Silver category.

Lahore Qalandars Lahore Qalandars, the two-time PSL champions, have retained two of the league’s best performers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman, both in the Platinum category. Fast bowler Haris Rauf, who is also named the brand ambassador of the franchise, will play alongside Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza in the Diamond category.

The team has also retained three promising young talents—Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, and Zaman Khan—in the Gold category. Veteran all-rounder David Wiese will be playing in the Silver category.

Player Draft and Category Relegations In addition to player retentions, some franchises successfully submitted category relegation requests for certain players. These requests were approved for Rumman Raees (Islamabad United), Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mehmood (Karachi Kings), Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars), and Faisal Akram (Multan Sultans).

Lahore Qalandars will have the first Platinum pick in the upcoming draft, followed by Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators, who will make the first picks in the second and third Platinum rounds, respectively.

The PSL 10 promises to be an exciting season with a perfect mix of seasoned internationals, emerging talents, and high-performing players across all teams. The retention process is a crucial step toward building well-balanced squads that will be looking to leave a mark on this year’s competition.

As the countdown to the Players Draft begins, fans can expect a highly competitive and action-packed PSL season in 2025.