The six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have confirmed their player retention ahead of the upcoming HBL PSL 2025 Players’ Draft, scheduled to be held on January 11.
Each team had the option to retain a maximum of eight players from their previous team, with three franchises taking full advantage, while Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi all retained seven players each.
Defending champions Islamabad United, three-time PSL champions, have retained their captain Shadab Khan in the Platinum category, along with fast bowler Naseem Shah.
Imad Wasim, who has also been appointed as the team’s mentor, and Azam Khan have been retained in the Diamond category, while Haider Ali and Salman Ali Agha have been retained in the Gold category. Colin Munro and Roman Head were retained in silver.
Multan Sultans, last season’s runner-up and 2021 champion, retained their captain Mohammad Rizwan and Osama Mir in the Platinum category.
David Willey, Iftikhar Ahmed and Usman Khan have been retained at Diamond, with Willey also appointed as a mentor to the team. Chris Jordan and Faisal Akram are retained in Gold and Silver respectively.
Peshawar Zalmi, the 2017 PSL champions, have retained Babar Azam, the highest run-scorer in PSL history, and dynamic batsman Saim Ayyub in the Platinum.
Mohammad Haris has been retained in the Diamond category, while the trio of bowlers, Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Muqeem, have been retained in the Silver category while being appointed as the team’s brand ambassador.
Ali Raza, who recently took a maiden ten-wicket haul in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, has been retained in the junior category.
The Quetta Gladiators have retained their star players Riley Rousseau, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Amir in the Diamond category.
Amir, who will also serve as the team’s mentor, joins Akhil Hossain, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim Jr in the gold. Khawaja Muhammad Nafi and Uthman Tariq kept the silver. Saud Shakeel will also serve as the brand ambassador for the Gladiators.
2020 PSL champions Karachi Kings retained Hasan Ali and James Vince the Diamond Gold, while skipper Shan Masood and emerging player Mohammad Irfan Khan retained the gold. Arafat Minhas, the Kings’ brand ambassador, along with Zahid Mahmood and Tim Seifert, hold the silver.
Lahore Qalandars, who have been one of the most successful teams in recent years, have retained Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman in the Platinum category.
Haris Rauf, who is also the team’s brand ambassador, and Sikandar Raza have been retained at Diamond. Abdullah Shafiq, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan kept the gold, while David Waze kept the silver.
In addition, the relegation requests of some players were successfully approved, including Roman Raees (Islamabad United), Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood (Karachi Kings), Abdullah Shafiq (Lahore Qalandars), and Faisal Akram (Sultans). Multan).
Full retention list:
Islamabad United (8) Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Waseem (Murshid) and Azam Khan (Diamond), Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador) and Haider Ali (both Gold), Colin Munro and Rumman Rais (both Silver).
Quetta wrestlers (8) Abrar Ahmed, Muhammad Amir (Guide) and Riley Russo (all diamond), Akil Hussain, Saud Shakeel (brand ambassador), Muhammad Waseem Jr (all gold), Khawaja Muhammad Nafi and Usman Tariq (silver).
Lahore Qalandars (8) Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman (both Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador) and Sikander Raza (both Diamond), Abdullah Shafiq, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan (all Gold), David Wise (Silver).
Karachi Kings (7) Hasan Ali and James Vince (both diamond), Mohammad Irfan Khan and Shaan Masood (both gold), Arafat Minhas (brand ambassador), Tim Seifert and Zahid Mahmood (all silver).
Multan Sultans (7) Muhammad Rizwan and Osama Mir (both Platinum), David Willey (Mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (Brand Ambassador), Usman Khan (All Diamonds), Chris Jordan (Gold), Faisal Akram (Silver).
Peshawar Zalmi (7) Babar Azam, Saim Ayyub (both Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Daisy), Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Muqeem (Brand Ambassador) (all Silver), Ali Reza (Emerging).