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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the player draft for the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been rescheduled to Huzoori Bagh at Lahore Fort in Lahore. Initially slated to take place in Gwadar, Balochistan, the draft was moved due to “unforeseen logistical challenges.” The event is now set for January 13, 2025, at 12:30 PM.
The rescheduled venue, Huzoori Bagh, is a historic site located within the Lahore Fort, offering a stunning backdrop for what is expected to be a glamorous event. The PCB also confirmed that Lahore will play a key role in the PSL 2025 Trophy Tour, with the city being one of the central locations for the tournament’s promotional activities across the country.
PSL 10: Player Draft Date and Format
The draft, a pivotal moment for the six franchises of the PSL, will set the stage for PSL 2025, which is scheduled to take place from April 8 to May 19, 2025. During the player draft ceremony, teams will select players to build their star-studded squads for the landmark 10th edition of the league.
The pick order for the player draft has also been confirmed. In the platinum category, Lahore Qalandars, two-time PSL champions, will make the first pick, followed by their arch-rivals, Karachi Kings. Quetta Gladiators, the 2019 PSL champions, will pick third, while Peshawar Zalmi will select fourth. Last season’s runners-up, Multan Sultans, will pick fifth, and Islamabad United, the defending champions, will make the sixth pick.
Team Retentions Ahead of PSL 10 Draft
Ahead of the draft, all six PSL franchises have confirmed their player retentions for the 2025 season. These retentions include star players who will remain with their respective teams, as well as new players added to strengthen the squads. Here’s a breakdown of the retention lists:
Islamabad United (8 Retained Players):
- Platinum: Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah
- Diamond: Imad Wasim (mentor), Azam Khan
- Gold: Salman Ali Agha (brand ambassador), Haider Ali
- Silver: Colin Munro, Rumman Raees
Multan Sultans (7 Retained Players):
- Platinum: Mohammad Rizwan, Usama Mir
- Diamond: David Willey (mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (brand ambassador), Usman Khan
- Gold: Chris Jordan
- Silver: Faisal Akram
Peshawar Zalmi (7 Retained Players):
- Platinum: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub
- Diamond: Mohammad Haris
- Silver: Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufyan Moqim (brand ambassador)
- Emerging: Ali Raza
Quetta Gladiators (8 Retained Players):
- Diamond: Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir (mentor), Rilee Rossouw
- Gold: Saud Shakeel (brand ambassador), Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Silver: Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Usman Tariq
Karachi Kings (7 Retained Players):
- Diamond: Hasan Ali, James Vince
- Gold: Shan Masood, Muhammad Irfan Khan
- Silver: Arafat Minhas (brand ambassador), Tim Seifert, Zahid Mehmood
Lahore Qalandars (8 Retained Players):
- Platinum: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman
- Diamond: Haris Rauf (brand ambassador), Sikandar Raza
- Gold: Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan
- Silver: David Wiese
Successful Category Relegation Requests
In addition to the retention lists, the PCB has also announced the players whose requests for category relegation have been successfully accepted. These players have been moved to lower categories for the draft. The successful relegation requests include:
- Rumman Raees (Islamabad United)
- Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, and Zahid Mehmood (all Karachi Kings)
- Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars)
- Faisal Akram (Multan Sultans)
These relegation requests allow franchises to adjust their squads more strategically ahead of the draft.
The Road to PSL 2025: What’s Next?
As the rescheduled player draft on January 13 draws closer, anticipation for PSL 2025 continues to build. This season marks a significant milestone in the tournament’s history, with the 10th edition promising to deliver even more excitement and intense cricket action. As franchises prepare to finalize their squads, the PSL Trophy Tour will allow fans across Pakistan to engage with the league and celebrate its growing legacy.
With the draft picks sorted and retention lists confirmed, fans are eager to see how the teams are shaped and which new stars will join the ranks of the PSL’s already established legends. The upcoming season is expected to be one of the most exciting yet, as Pakistan’s top cricketers and international players vie for glory in front of packed stadiums and an ever-growing fan base.
