The Pakistan Super League (PSL) Players’ Draft for its 10th season is set to take place this Saturday in Gwadar, Balochistan.
The final draft list includes eight Bangladeshi cricketers, with the name of Shakib Al Hasan—despite uncertainty surrounding his international career—standing out.
A week ahead of the draft, PSL authorities unveiled the complete roster of retained players and the final draft pool. In total, 510 overseas cricketers from 19 countries are part of this year’s draft.
From Bangladesh, the players listed are Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Towhid Hridoy.
They’ve been placed across the top two categories, Platinum and Diamond, though specific details on their categories have not been disclosed.
The upcoming PSL season is scheduled to run from April 8 to May 19. Apart from the Dhaka Premier League, there are no major cricket commitments for Bangladeshi players during this period. Thus, securing No Objection Certificates (NOC) shouldn’t pose significant challenges if they are picked by PSL teams.
Before the draft, each franchise had the option to retain up to eight players. Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, and Quetta Gladiators filled their quota, while Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi retained seven players each.
Typically held in February-March, the PSL has been shifted to April-May this year due to the ICC Champions Trophy. This adjustment coincides with the IPL season, making PSL a more attractive option for players not picked by IPL franchises.
The draft also features several high-profile international stars, including David Warner, Chris Lynn, Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Sam Billings, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rassie van der Dussen, Jason Holder, and Evin Lewis.
