The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) kicked off drafting for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Lahore's National Cricket Academy on Monday.
Five iconic players were to be selected in the first round. Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi was picked by Peshawar Zalmi. Karachi Kings bagged Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik. Islamabad United brought Shane Watson in as their iconic player. Quetta Gladiators chose Kevin Pietersen while Lahore Qalandars were left with the choice of Chris Gayle as their iconic player.
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In the Platinum category players selection, Pakistan Test captain Misbahul Haq was picked by Islamabad. Meanwhile, Umar Akmal was picked by Lahore from the Platinum category.
Pakistan opener Ahmad Shehzad and wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed were picked by Quetta from the Platinum category.
In the Diamond category players selection, all-rounder Imad Wasim was picked by Karachi. Meanwhile, Muhammad Hafeez, who was demoted to the Diamond category after being ignored during the Platinum category players selection, was picked by Peshawar.
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Left-arm fast-bowler Muhammad Amir was the most important player when the Gold category players selection started and Karachi immediately made sure they bagged him in their first pick.
The most surprising non-selection of the day was when Pakistan World T20 winning captain Younus Khan was not selected by any team.
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Rules
- Each team has to select three players from the Platinum, Diamond and Gold categories.
- At least two emerging players need to be selected by each team.
- Five players from the silver category will be selected.
- Once a player is not selected in his initial category, he will automatically be demoted to the next lower category.
- A maximum of five foreign players can be selected by each team.
Teams as of now:
Karachi Kings (Head coach - Mickey Arthur): Shoaib Malik, Shakib alHasan, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Ravi Bopara, Lendll Simmons, Muhammad Amir, Bilawal Bhatti, James Vince.
Peshawar Zalmi (Head coach - Mohammad Akram): Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Darren Sammy, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Hafeez, Chris Jordan, Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Khan, Jim Allenby.
Islamabad United (Head coach - Dean Jones): Shane Watson, Andre Russell, Misbahul Haq, Samuel Badree, Muhammad Irfan, Brad Haddin, Sharjeel Khan, Muhammad Sami, Khalid Latif.
Lahore Qalandars (Head coach - Paddy Upton): Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Umar Akmal, Muhammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Sohaib Maqsood, Mustafizur Rahman, Kevon Cooper, Cameron Delport.
Quetta Gladiators (Head coach - Moin Khan): Kevin Pietersen, Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Jason Holder, Luke Wright, Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Elton Chigumbura
Islamabad with the last pick in the third round of the Gold category and also the last pick of the day... Khalid Latif it is. He has 24 tons and 34 half-tons in First class as an opener.
Karachi Kings go for James Vince as their last pick from the Gold category.
Karachi Kings move forward in the drafting process and add James Vince @vincey14 to their team! #HBLPSL #AbKhelKeDikha
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Lahore have selected Cameron Delport as their last pick from Gold category. He is a left-hand opener for Dolphins in South African domestic T20 tournament.
Peshawar Zalmi pick Somerset all-rounder Jim Allenby. He has two tons and 18 half-tons in T20s, and 60 scalps in 109 matches. He seems to be a surprise pick.
Peshawar Zalmi looking to recruit only the best in PSL
Third round of Gold category selection now. Quetta are first. They have to choose a foreign player and they pick Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura.
Karachi select Bilawal Bhatti. This one is a forced pick I guess. No better options left for Karachi in fast-bowling from Pakistan.
Pakistan's all-rounder, @007Bilawal has just been picked by Karachi Kings! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Peshawar get to choose next... Junaid Khan it is. This seemed like the Pakistani fast-bowlers' round.
Another left-arm fast-bowler has been drafted by @KhpalTeamPSL; the crowd applauds the entry of @JunaidkhanREAL to the team! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Islamabad are next... and they have picked up yet another Pakistani paceman Muhammad Sami. Can he be effective enough for Islamabad?
Next up Quetta... and they have selected right-arm paceman Umar Gul. He is recently in superb form as evident from his Quaid-e-Azam trophy performances.
The gul-dozer from Pakistan Umer Gul @mdk_gul, has just been drafted by Quetta Gladiators! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Lahore get the first say in second round of Gold category players selection and they have selected West Indian Kevon Cooper.
Peshawar have selected Bangladesh left-hand opener Tamim Iqbal as their first pick from Gold category.
Opening batsman from Bangladesh, @TamimOfficial28 has been drafted by @KhpalTeamPSL! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Islamabad have picked up Sharjeel Khan as their first player from the Gold category. They have only one spot left for a foreigner.
And Quetta have picked Zulfiqar Babar as their first player from the Gold category. He can be a handful in the UAE conditions.
Seems like everyone is going for left-armers. Continuing the tradition, Quetta Gladiators pick @BabarZulfiqar78! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
So, the bowler who said he took inspiration from Muhammad Amir has been taken up by Lahore, Mustafizur Rahman.
Karachi have picked one of the best fast-bowlers of the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League, Muhammad Amir. First selection from Gold category for Karachi was actually a golden pick.
The exceptionally talented Muhammad Amir has just been drafted by Karachi Kings! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/wQbq4IkFIz
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
The team celebrating their pick! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/whxJK759a8
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
The players selection from the Gold category will start soon. Everyone is busy with lunch at the moment - the second best thing after cricket, yummy food!
PHOTO: LAHORE QALANDARS/TWITTERQuetta to make the last pick in the Diamond category... Luke Wright has been selected.
Quetta Gladiators have just picked @lukewright204 as their last pick in the Diamond category! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Two players remain to be selected in the Diamond category and Lahore have selected Pakistani right-hand batsman Sohaib Maqsood.
The talented, middle order batsman @sohaibcricketer has been picked by @lahoreqalandars! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Karachi Kings pick right-hand batsman Lendll Simmons. Finally a specialist.
So, Peshawar get to choose twice now.
First pick: Pakistan right-hand batsman, the Professor, Muhammad Hafeez it is. A good bargain for Peshawar as they got him for half the price.
The "Professor" Muhammad Hafeez has just been picked by Peshawar Zalmi! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/Kuyv9MC7n3
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Second pick: Chris Jordan, the guy responsible for Pakistan's defeat in the third T20 against England in the Super Over, has been picked by Javed Afridi.
Peshawar Zalmi just added to the team's strength by picking Chris Jordan! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/tLKkfoOMg1
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
West Indian captain Jason Holder is now a part of the Quetta Gladiators. A good bowler and a blistering batsman. Smart pick.
A brilliant entry to the team, @Jaseholder98 gets picked by Quetta Gladiators! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/0AoDA3nnLx
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Yasir Shah has been picked by Lahore. Lahore have picked a gem now!
Lahore Qalandar has just picked the exceptional Yasir Shah! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/o2vdkNiv1p
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Karachi's turn... and it is another all-rounder Englishman Ravi Bopara.
The English all-rounder Ravi Bopara gets picked by Karachi Kings! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/zVFlZLfhoG
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Islamabad get to pick again. Brad Haddin has been picked from Diamond category.
The wicket keeper from Austraila, Brad Haddin joins Islamabad United! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/znYsv0zgFu
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Peshawar have picked Kamran Akmal from the Diamond category.
Two picks for Islamabad now due to their trade with Peshawar.
First pick: West Indian leg-spinner Samuel Badree. Spin will be important on UAE pitched. Pacers will not find much business there.
Second pick: Finally tall left-arm pacer has been picked by Islamabad. Muhammad Irfan it is.
The Colombo hero Anwar Ali has been picked by Quetta. A good all-rounder added to the team.
Quetta Gladiators pick Anwar Ali! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/og4jwVRba0
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan to Lahore. Great pick by Lahore!
The upcoming, wicket-keeper batsman, Muhammad Rizwan has been picked by Lahore Qalandars! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/hjnLyvtiNu
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Imad Wasim selected by Karachi from the Diamond category. Smart move!
Karachi Kings pick the young & enthusaistic Imaad Wasim! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/wFBEDGj7Fm
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Younus Khan, Muhammad Irfan and Muhammad Hafeez have been demoted to Diamond category after being ignored during selection in the Platinum category.
Here is the coaching panel for the PSL
Here's presenting the hugely talented Coaching Panel of #HBLPSL. pic.twitter.com/ZYRr59oGtP
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Karachi Kings picked T20 specialist Sohail Tanvir as their last Platinum category player.
Draft update! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/SevoaGQ5r4
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
It's Peshawar's turn again.
Peshawar's last Platinum pick is Darren Sammy
Peshawar Zalmi picked Wahab Riaz as their second Platinum category player.
Peshawar Zalmi has just secured one of Pakistan's premium fast-bowler, Wahab Riaz. #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/KwwaE5EW08
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Quetta Gladiators picked another explosive player
This time, its Mr. Selfie Ahmad Shahzad
Seems like Quetta will be a tough one to beat
Lahore Qalandars picked Umar Akmal.
Draft update! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/EwRazE5bqz
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
A local boy who will have a point to prove to everyone.
Islamabad United picked Pakistan Test Captain Misbahul Haq after
Draft update! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/CdShWXwYPg
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Watson and Russell.
Karachi Kings have gone for Bangladeshi Shakib alHasan as the second Platinum category player.
Draft update! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/x00Q9EBX0N
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Lahore Qalandar picked Dwayne Bravo as their second Platinum category player.
Two former World T20 champions can really set it up for the Lahore Qalandar's.
Islamabad United picked Andre Russel as their second Platinum category player.
Islamabad United have just secured the explosive @Russell12A! Welcome addition to any team in t-20 #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Two all-rounders, not a bad competition at all.
Sarfaraz will join Kevin Peterson in Quetta Gladiators
Draft update! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/BW7gwSxZZg
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Shahid Afridi in a serious look as he prepares to buy the best player for Peshawar Zalmi team
Intense discussions are taking place between @SAfridiOfficial & Javed Afridi, the owner of Peshawer Zalmi. #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/dxBWjCF0pH
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
The 2nd round has begun
Lahore Qalandar have picked the giant West Indian Chris Gayle
Draft update! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/LMC9i4iCTI
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
With Gayle in the side, one thing is for certain, and that is entertainment, entertainment, entertainment.
Quetta gladiators have picked Kevin Peterson as their Icon player.
He is in scintillating form in the Big Bash League.
Islamabad United have picked Shane Watson as their Icon player
Draft update! #HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/M3slh3gtu2
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
A tricky choice, have been out of form for a while.
We will see what he can bring to the Islamabad team, where he will unite with his fellow countrymen Dean Jones, who is the head coach of the Islamabad United.
Karachi Kings have picked Shoaib Malik as their Icon player
Draft update! #HBLPSL #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/LFv0iMD4E7
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
What a buy for the Karachi supporters
Top notch performer in this format all-over the world, and can lead the side as well.
Peshawar Zalmi picked Boom Boom Afridi
As expected, BOOM BOOM Afridi has just signed for Peshawar #Zalmi! #HBLPSL
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
It was pretty expected.
A great buy for the Peshawar team.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman addresses the parties before the drafting begins
PCB Chairman, Shahryar Khan highlights the long term benefits that PSL has for Pak's Cricket. #HBLPSL #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/MOLdS8AQAi
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
Karachi Kings unveil their logo
Here it is @KarachiKingsARY unveils their logo just now at #HBLPSL draft ceremony! pic.twitter.com/9wJyvHpo4y
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 21, 2015
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