Six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have confirmed the retention of their players ahead of the upcoming HBL PSL 2025 Players Draft scheduled for January 11.
Each franchise had the option to retain a maximum of eight players from their previous squad, three franchises made full use of the opportunity, while Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi retained seven players each.
Defending champions Islamabad United, three-time PSL winners, have retained their skipper Shadab Khan in the platinum category along with fast bowler Naseem Shah.
As mentors of the team, Imad Wasim and Azam Khan have been retained in diamond category while Haider Ali and Salman Ali Agha have been retained in gold category. Colin Munro and Roman Reyes were placed in silver.
Last season’s runner-up and 2021 champions Multan Sultans have retained their captain Muhammad Rizwan and leg-spinner Osama Mir in the platinum category.
David Willey, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Usman Khan have been retained in the diamond, with Willey named as the team’s mentor. Chris Jordan and Faisal Akram have been retained in Gold and Silver respectively.
2017 PSL champions Peshawar Zalmi have retained PSL history’s highest run-scorer Babar Azam and dynamic batsman Saeem Ayub in platinum.
Mohammad Haris has been retained in Diamond while all three spin bowlers Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Muqim have been retained in Silver by being named the team’s brand ambassadors.
Ali Raza, who recently took ten wickets for the first time in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, has been retained in the emerging category.
Quetta Gladiators have retained their star players Riley Russo, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Amir in the diamond category.
Aamir, who will also serve as the team’s mentor, joins Aqeel Hussain, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Wasim Jr. in Gold. Khawaja Mohammad Nafi and Usman Tariq have been retained in Silver. Saud Shakeel will also act as the brand ambassador of Gladiators.
2020 PSL champions Karachi Kings have retained Hasan Ali and James Vince in Diamond while captain Shaan Masood and emerging player Muhammad Irfan Khan have been retained in Gold. Kings brand ambassadors Arafat Minhas, along with Zahid Mehmood and Tim Seifert remain in silver.
One of the most successful teams in recent years, Lahore Qalandars 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 in the diamond. Abdullah Shafiq, Jehandad Khan and Zaman Khan have been awarded gold while David Weiss remains in silver.
Additionally, some players successfully got their category relegation applications approved, including Roman Raees (Islamabad United), Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mehmood (Karachi Kings), Abdullah Shafiq (Lahore Qalandars) and Faisal Akram. (Multan Sultans) included.
Complete maintenance list:
Islamabad United (8) Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Wasim (Mentor) and Azam Khan (Diamond), Salman Ali Agha (Brand Ambassador) and Hyder Ali (both Gold), Colin Munro and Ruman Raees (both Silver).
Quetta Gladiators (8) Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir (Guardian) and Riley Russo (All Diamond), Aqeel Hussain, Saud Shakeel (Brand Ambassador) and Mohammad Wasim Jr. (All Gold), Khawaja Mohammad Nafee 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 Wiese (Silver).
Karachi Kings (7) Hassan Ali and James Vince (both Diamond), Muhammad Irfan Khan and Shaan Masood (both Gold), Arafat Minhas (Brand Ambassador), Tim Seifert and Zahid Mehmood (all Silver).
Multan Sultans (7) Mohammad Rizwan and Osama Mir (both Platinum), David Wiley (Mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (Brand Ambassador) and Usman Khan (All Diamond), Chris Jordan (Gold), Faisal Akram (Silver).
Peshawar Zalmi (7) Babar Azam, Saeem Ayub (both Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Diamond), Arif Yaqub, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Muqim (Brand Ambassador) (All Silver), Ali Raza (Emerging).