PSL 2025: Player retentions for upcoming season announced

The six franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have confirmed their player retentions ahead of the upcoming PSL 2025 Players Draft, scheduled for Saturday, January 11. This will be the 10th edition of the tournament and will commence on April 8, 2025. Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United will be in action in the curtain-raiser.

Each franchise had the opportunity to retain a maximum of eight players from their previous squad. Only three teams made full use of this rule as they retained the full quota of eight players. Meanwhile, three franchises – Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi retained seven players each.

Defending champions Islamabad United, who won the coveted PSL title on three occasions, have retained their skipper Shadab Khan in the Platinum category, alongside young pacer Naseem Shah. Imad Wasim, also picked as the team’s mentor, and Azam Khan were retained in the Diamond category, while Haider Ali and Salman Ali Agha have been extended their stays in the franchise. They will be in Gold. Colin Munro and Rumman Raees were kept in Silver.

Multan Sultans, who finished runners-up last season and won the title in 2021, have retained their captain Mohammad Rizwan and leg-spinner Usama Mir in the Platinum category. Meanwhile, David Willey, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Usman Khan have been retained in Diamond, with Willey also named the team’s mentor. Chris Jordan and Faisal Akram are retained in Gold and Silver, respectively.

Peshawar Zalmi, the 2017 PSL champions, have retained the talismanic Babar Azam, who has more PSL runs than any other batter, and also the talented opener Saim Ayub in Platinum. Mohammad Haris has been retained in Diamond, while a spin-bowling troika of Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, and Sufyan Moqim, have been retained in Silver after being named as the team’s brand ambassador.

Ali Raza, who recently earned a maiden 10-wicket haul in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, has been retained in the Emerging category.

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Quetta Gladiators, who crashed out in Eliminator 1 last season, have retained their star players Rilee Rossouw, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Amir in the Diamond category. The latter will also serve as the team mentor. Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr in Gold. Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and Usman Tariq are retained in Silver. Shakeel will also serve as the Gladiators’ brand ambassador.

2020 PSL champions Karachi Kings finished second from the bottom last season. They have retained the services of Hasan Ali and James Vince in Diamond, while skipper Shan Masood and emerging player Muhammad Irfan Khan are retained in Gold. Arafat Minhas, the brand ambassador for the Kings, along with Zahid Mehmood and Tim Seifert, are retained in Silver.

Lahore Qalandars, one of the most successful teams in recent years, finished last in 2024. They managed to win only one out of their 10 games in PSL 2024. They 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 Diamond. Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, and Zaman Khan are retained in Gold, while David Wiese is in Silver.

Furthermore, some players have successfully had their category relegation requests approved, including Rumman Raees (Islamabad United), Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mehmood (Karachi Kings), Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars), and Faisal Akram (Multan Sultans).

Full list of 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).

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).

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)

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).

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).

Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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