KARACHI: All six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises completed their squads for the upcoming eighth edition of the marquee level in the recently-held Players’ Draft here on Thursday.
Lahore Qalandars
As per the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced pick order, defending champions Lahore Qalandars, who had the opportunity to open the proceedings, wasted no time roping back their key opener Fakhar Zaman for the upcoming edition, having released him earlier when they announced their retentions.
The Qalandars then picked national all-rounder Hussain Talat in the diamond and Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza in the gold category, in a bid to firm their combination by recruiting the all-rounders.
The 2022 champions then picked Dilbar Hussain, Mirza Tahir Baig and Ahmed Daniyal in the silver category to strengthen their already strong pace attack.
Young wicketkeeper batter Shawaiz Irfan, who represented Bahawalpur Royals in the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Junior League (PJL) managed to grasp the attention of the Qalandars think thank as they recruited Irfan in the emerging category; covering their need for a wicketkeeper.
The Qalandars then roped in a foreign wicketkeeper batter Jordan Cox before picking pacer Jalat Khan in their final pick.
The Qalandars already had some prominent names in their retentions like star pacer and their captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Harry Brook, David Wiese, Abdullah Shafique and Kamran Ghulam.
Complete Squad
Platinum: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Rashid Khan, Fakhar Zaman
Diamond: David Wiese, Hussain Talat
Gold: Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza
Silver: Harry Brook, Kamran Ghulam, Dilbar Hussain, Mirza Tahir Baig, Ahmed Daniyal
Emerging: Zaman Khan, Shawaiz Irfan
Supplementary: Jordan Cox, Jalat Khan
Quetta Gladiators
The 2019 champions, Quetta Gladiators, who had the second pick, picked top-ranked T20I bowler Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva in their squad to bring more quality to their spin bowling as they already had the firepower with the pace.
Soon after, the Gladiators’ first pick in the platinum category, Multan Sultans intended to snap their ace pacer Naseem Shah, but the Gladiators brought their Right To Match Card in effect to rope back Naseem.
In a bid to add flavour to their batting line-up, the Gladiators availed the services of hard-hitting West Indian batter Odean Smith in the diamond category before picking their last edition’s opener Ahsan Ali in the gold category to have more opening options in their squad.
In the silver category, however, the Gladiators picked the experienced all-rounder Umaid Asif and tape-ball cricket sensation Muhammad Zahid.
Young batter Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, who represented Balochistan in the recent edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, was picked by the Gladiators in the emerging category.
The former champions then went on to add another experienced opening batter, Martin Guptill to their side and also Pakistan U-19 player Omair Bin Yousuf in the supplementary category.
Complete Squad
Platinum: Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva
Diamond: Iftikhar Ahmed, Jason Roy, Odean Smith
Gold: Sarfaraz Ahmed (c), Mohammad Hasnain, Ahsan Ali
Silver: Naveen ul Haq, Umar Akmal (Mentor), Will Smeed, Umaid Asif, Muhammad Zahid
Emerging: Abdul Wahid Bangalzai
Supplementary: Martin Guptill, Omair Bin Yousuf
Multan Sultans
The 2021 champions Sultans started their proceedings with a bang as they snatched veteran South African batter David Miller, following up with Irish pacer Josh Little in the platinum category.
The Sultans then added young West Indian spinner, Akeal Hosein in the gold, while Usama Mir, Usman Khan and Anwar Ali in the silver.
ICC T20 World Cup 2022 winner Adil Rashid, who played a crucial role in his national team’s glory was picked as a supplementary player by the Sultans, followed by PJL and Southern Punjab batter Arafat Minhas.
Complete Squad
Platinum: Mohammad Rizwan (c), David Miller, Josh Little
Diamond: Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw, Shan Masood
Gold: Akeal Hosein, Shahnawaz Dahani (Brand Ambassador), Tim David
Silver: Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Anwar Ali
Emerging: Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah
Supplementary: Adil Rashid, Arafat Minhas
Karachi Kings
2020 champions Karachi Kings roped in Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning wicketkeeper batter Matthew Wade to their squad and followed their vital decision by picking seasoned South African spinner Imran Tahir.
The Kings acquired the services of two English batters James Vince and James Fuller in the diamond category, while Australian pacer Andrew Tye in the gold.
PSL 5 champions followed their decent start in the draft by picking in-form batter Tayyab Tahir and young wicketkeeper batter Muhammad Akhlaq in the silver category.
The Kings then roped in middle-order Irfan Khan Niazi in the emerging category.
Adding more depth to their bowling, Kings then went on to recruit star South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and sensational pacer Mohammad Umar in the supplementary category.
Complete Squad
Platinum: Haider Ali, Matthew Wade, Imran Tahir
Diamond: Imad Wasim (c), Mohammad Amir, Shoaib Malik, James Vince, James Fuller
Gold: Andrew Tye
Silver: Aamir Yamin, Mir Hamza, Sharjeel Khan, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Akhlaq
Emerging: Qasim Akram, Irfan Khan Niazi
Supplementary: Tabraiz Shamsi, Mohammad Umar
Islamabad United
Two-time champions of PSL Islamabad United, who had earlier released the English opener, Alex Hales, and Afghan hard-hitting Rahman Ullah Gurbaz from their lineup re-picked them in the platinum category.
The United then roped in Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi in the diamond to strengthen their bowling department before adding mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in the gold.
Veteran middle-order batter Sohaib Maqsood and left-arm pacer Rumman Raees, who played for the Sultans in the last edition were picked by the United in the Silver category for the upcoming eighth edition.
In the emerging category, however, the former champions picked their young bowler from the previous edition Zeeshan Zameer back into the squad again.
The inaugural champions also managed to acquire the services of seasoned English all-rounder Moeen Ali by picking him in the supplementary category alongside young all-rounder Mubasir Khan.
Complete Squad
Platinum: Shadab Khan (c), Alex Hales, Rahman Ullah Gurbaz
Diamond: Asif Ali (Brand Ambassador), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Gold: Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali
Silver: Abrar Ahmed, Colin Munro, Paul Stirling, Sohaib Maqsood, Rumman Raees
Emerging: Zeeshan Zameer
Supplementary: Moeen Ali, Mubasir Khan
Peshawar Zalmi
The 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi started their proceedings by picking Sri Lanka’s middle-order batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa and hard-hitting West Indian batter Rovman Powell in the platinum category.
Afghan spin wizard Mujeeb Ur Rahman was then also picked by the franchise in the diamond, followed by Danish Aziz and Arshad Iqbal in the gold.
The former champions then brought Wild Card into effect as they roped in former Gladiator Saim Ayub in the silver category, followed by spinner Usman Qadir.
Young batting sensation Haseeb Ullah then also went to the Zalmi in the emerging category, alongside Sufiyan Muqeem.
Babar-led Zalmi then took a surprising decision of skipping their pick in the supplementary category.
Complete Squad
Platinum: Babar Azam (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rovman Powell
Diamond: Sherfane Rutherford, Wahab Riaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Gold: Mohammad Haris, Danish Aziz, Arshad Iqbal
Silver: Saim Ayub, Aamir Jamal (Brand Ambassador), Salman Irshad and Tom-Kohler Cadmore, Usman Qadir
Emerging: Sufyan Muqeem, Haseeb Ullah
