Player retentions for HBL PSL 2025 announced

Retentions Finalized Across Franchises

The six franchises of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 have confirmed their player retentions ahead of the upcoming player draft scheduled for 11 January 2025. This season, each franchise could retain up to eight players. Most teams utilized this fully, except Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi, who retained seven players each.

The league will run from 8 April to 19 May 2025, featuring 510 players from 19 countries in the draft pool.

• Defending champions Islamabad United retained top stars including Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah.
• Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Lahore Qalandars also retained several high-performing players.
• No trades occurred this season.

Islamabad United: Strong Core Retained

Islamabad United, the reigning champions and three-time title winners, retained their captain Shadab Khan and star pacer Naseem Shah in the Platinum category.

• Imad Wasim, also a mentor, and Azam Khan were retained in Diamond.
• Salman Ali Agha, the brand ambassador, and Haider Ali were retained in Gold.
• Colin Munro, the second-highest overseas run-scorer in PSL history, and Rumman Raees were placed in Silver.

Their roster reflects a balance of experience and emerging talent, cementing their position as a strong contender for the upcoming season.

Multan Sultans: Champions Build on Legacy

Multan Sultans, runners-up in 2024 and 2021 champions, focused on key players for retention:

• Mohammad Rizwan and Usama Mir in Platinum.
• David Willey, named the team’s mentor, along with Iftikhar Ahmed (brand ambassador) and Usman Khan, were placed in Diamond.
• Chris Jordan, known for his bowling versatility, and Faisal Akram (Silver) added depth to their roster.

Their mix of local and international talent sets them apart for PSL 2025.

Peshawar Zalmi: Banking on Youth and Experience

Peshawar Zalmi, led by PSL’s leading run-scorer Babar Azam, retained seven players:

• Babar Azam and rising star Saim Ayub in Platinum.
• Wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris (Diamond) and emerging fast bowler Ali Raza (Emerging) bring excitement to their squad.
• Silver-category spin talents Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, and Sufyan Moqim strengthen their bowling unit.

Quetta Gladiators: Focus on Overseas and Local Stars

Quetta Gladiators, PSL 2019 champions, prioritized their overseas stars alongside emerging Pakistani talent:

• Retentions include Rilee Rossouw, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, and veteran pacer Mohammad Amir, all in Diamond.
• Saud Shakeel, the team’s brand ambassador, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr bring all-round capabilities in Gold.
• Khawaja Muhammad Nafay and Usman Tariq (Silver) bolster their options.

Karachi Kings: Youth and Strategy

Karachi Kings, the 2020 champions, adopted a strategic approach, retaining seven players:

• Hasan Ali and James Vince (Diamond) headline their lineup.
• Skipper Shan Masood and Muhammad Irfan Khan, known for his fielding prowess, were retained in Gold.
• Emerging players like Arafat Minhas (Brand Ambassador), Tim Seifert, and Zahid Mehmood round out their squad.

Lahore Qalandars: Powerhouse of Talent

Two-time champions Lahore Qalandars secured their key players, maintaining a strong core:

• Shaheen Shah Afridi, the third-leading wicket-taker in PSL history, and Fakhar Zaman, a top run-scorer, lead their Platinum category.
• Haris Rauf, the team’s brand ambassador, and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza were retained in Diamond.
• Batting talents Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, and Zaman Khan were placed in Gold.

The Qalandars will have the first Platinum pick in the draft, ensuring an opportunity to bolster their squad further.

Global Players in the Draft Pool

The draft for HBL PSL 2025 includes several global cricketing stars:

• Australia: David Warner, Chris Lynn, and Alex Carey headline a strong list.
• England: Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, and Tymal Mills are among the top-tier players.
• West Indies: Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, and Evin Lewis bring Caribbean flair.
• South Africa: Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma add depth.
• Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka also contribute experienced and emerging stars.

Full Retentions List

Successful category relegation requests

Rumman Raees (Islamabad United), Hasan Ali, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood (all Karachi Kings), Abdullah Shafique (Lahore Qalandars), Faisal Akram (Multan Sultans)

Some of the star foreign players registered in the top two categories