Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have announced their retained players ahead of the draft which is due to take place on January 11. All six franchises were allowed to retain a maximum of eight players for the upcoming PSL edition. Three franchises including Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, and Quetta Gladiators maximized all eight of their retention options, while Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Karachi Kings retained seven players each. The retained players are spread across five categories starting from Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Emerging. Interestingly, no trades between franchises have taken place this year.
Islamabad United:
The defending champions and the team with the most PSL trophies, Islamabad United, have retained their skipper Shadab Khan and pace spearhead Naseem Shah in the platinum category. Middle-order explosive batter Faheem Ashraf was let go from the team.
Retained players: Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Wasim (mentor) and Azam Khan (Diamond), Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador) and Haider Ali (Both Gold), Colin Munro and Rumman Raees (both Silver)
Notable released players: Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Hunain Shah
Multan Sultans:
Multan Sultans released plenty of their core players and players that played a significant part in their campaign last year.
Retained players: Mohammad Rizwan and Usama Mir (both Platinum), David Willey (mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (Brand Ambassador) and Usman Khan (all Diamond), Chris Jordan (Gold), Faisal Akram (Silver)
Notable released players: Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, Reeza Hendricks, Shahnawaz Dahani
Peshawar Zalmi:
Tom Kohler-Cadmore has been with Peshawar Zalmi for the previous four seasons, however, the franchise has released him for the upcoming season. Along with him Aamer Jamal, who scored with an average of 38.5 while striking at 162 in the last season, has also been released.
Retained players: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub (both Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Diamond), Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim (Brand Ambassador) (all silver), Ali Raza (Emerging)
Notable released players: Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Luke Wood, Aamer Jamal, Salman Irshad
Lahore Qalandars:
Rassie van der Dussen, who was Qalandars’ highest run-getter last season, has been let go from the side. Previously, Lahore Qalandars requested relegating Abdullah Shafique to the gold category, where he has been retained for the season.
Retained players: Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman (both Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador) and Sikandar Raza (both Diamond), Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan (all Gold), David Wiese (Silver)
Notable released players: Rassie van der Dussen, Kamran Ghulam
Karachi Kings:
Karachi Kings are only one of two sides that have not retained any Platinum category player. Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mehmood were previously relegated from their original categories, and have been retained in their relegated categories for the tenth edition of the league.
Retained players: Hasan Ali and James Vince (both Diamond), Muhammad Irfan Khan and Shan Masood (both Gold), Arafat Minhas (Brand Ambassador), Tim Seifert and Zahid Mehmood (all Silver)
Notable released players: Mohammad Nawaz, Shoaib Malik, Mir Hamza, Kieron Pollard
Quetta Gladiators:
Quetta have not retained Sarfaraz Ahmed, their former captain and core player. Like Karachi, they too have not retained any player in the Platinum category.
Retained players: Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir (mentor) and Rilee Rossouw (all Diamond), Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel (Brand Ambassador) and Mohammad Wasim Jnr (all Gold), Khawaja Muhammad Nafay and Usman Tariq (Silver)
Notable released players: Mohammad Hasnain, Jason Roy, Sarfaraz Ahmed
