PSL Franchises Announce Player Retentions Ahead of Exciting New Season

PSL Players’ Draft is scheduled for 11 January

Sun Jan 05 2025
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Key Points

  • All six franchises have finalised their retentions
  • No trades have taken place this season
  • PSL 2025 is scheduled to take place between 8 April and 19 May 2025
  • 510 players from 19 nations have signed up for the draft

ISLAMABAD:  The six franchises of Pakistan Super League (PSL) have announced their player retentions, setting the stage for the much-anticipated Players Draft on January 11, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.

In a press release, the PCB said that each franchise was allowed a maximum of eight retentions from their previous squad.

Three franchises made full use of the retentions except Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi – who retained seven players each, it added.

Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah

Defending champions and three-time winners of the PSL, Islamabad United have retained their skipper Shadab Khan, who was also player of the tournament in their successful campaign last season, and star fast bowler Naseem Shah in the Platinum category.

Imad Wasim, who is also named as the mentor of United, has been retained in Diamond along with Azam Khan. In Gold, Salman Ali Agha has been named as the brand ambassador while Haider Ali has also been retained in the same category.

Colin Munro

Colin Munro, the second leading run-scorer among overseas batters in the PSL history, has been retained in the Silver category alongside Rumman Raees.

Mohammad Rizwan

Multan Sultans, the runners-up of the last edition and winners of the PSL 2021, have retained captain Mohammad Rizwan and leg-spinner Usama Mir in Platinum.

David Willey, who is set to feature in his fourth PSL edition, Iftikhar Ahmed and opening batter Usman Khan have been retained in the Diamond category. Willey is also named the mentor of the side while Iftikhar will be their brand ambassador.

Chris Jordan

England’s Chris Jordan, who has so far represented three franchises in the PSL, has been retained in Gold while wrist-spinner Faisal Akram is stationed in the Silver category.

Babar Azam

Babar Azam, the leading run-scorer (3504) in PSL history and the skipper of the side, and dynamic batter Saim Ayub have been retained by one-time winners Peshawar Zalmi in Platinum.

Wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris has been retained in Diamond by Zalmi while spin bowling trio of Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim have been retained in Silver. Sufyan is the brand ambassador for Peshawar Zalmi.

Fast bowling sensation Ali Raza, who has just bagged maiden first-class ten-wicket haul in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 final, has been retained in the emerging category by Zalmi.

Mohammad Amir

Quetta Gladiators have retained Rilee Rossouw, the leading run-getter among overseas batters in PSL history, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and pacer Mohammad Amir in Diamond category. Amir will also be the mentor of the side.

Saud Shakeel, retained in the Gold category, is announced the brand ambassador for the Gladiators. No.1 ranked T20I bowler, Akeal Hosein and Mohammad Wasim Jnr have also been retained in Gold.

In the Silver category, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and spinner Usman Tariq have been retained by the 2019 winners.

James Vince

The PSL 2020 champions, Karachi Kings, have retained Hasan Ali and James Vince in Diamond. Skipper Shan Masood and emerging player Muhammad Irfan Khan have been retained in Gold.

Spinner Arafat Minhas and Zahid Mehmood along with New Zealand’s Tim Seifert have been retained in Silver on the Kings’ roster. 20-year-old Arafat, who has played four T20Is for Pakistan, is also the brand ambassador for Karachi Kings.

Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi, the third leading wicket-taker in PSL history, and Fakhar Zaman, the second-leading run-getter in PSL, have been retained in Platinum by the two-time winners Lahore Qalandars. Haris Rauf, who is named the brand ambassador as well, has been retained in Diamond alongside Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza.

Sikandar Raza

Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan have been retained in Gold by the Qalandars. Experienced David Wiese is retained in the silver category.

Lahore Qalandars have the first platinum pick, while Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators will be the first to pick in the second and third Platinum rounds, respectively.

Full retentions

Islamabad United (8) 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)

Multan Sultans (7) 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)

Peshawar Zalmi (7) Babar Azam, Saim Ayub (both Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Diamond), Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim (Brand Ambassador) (all silver), Ali Raza (Emerging)

Quetta Gladiators (8) 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)

Karachi Kings (7) 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)

Lahore Qalandars (8) 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).

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