PSL 2025: Three franchises retain full eight players as draft nears

Kings, Sultans, and Zalmi retained seven players each as franchises could keep up to eight players from their squads.

The six franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have confirmed their player retentions ahead of the upcoming HBL PSL 2025 Players Draft, scheduled for January 11.

Each franchise had the option to retain a maximum of eight players from their previous squad, with three franchises making full use of the opportunity, while Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi retained seven players each.

Defending champions Islamabad United, who are three-time PSL winners, have retained their captain Shadab Khan in the Platinum category, alongside fast bowler Naseem Shah.

Imad Wasim, also named as the team’s mentor, and Azam Khan were retained in the Diamond category, while Haider Ali and Salman Ali Agha have been retained in Gold. Colin Munro and Rumman Raees were kept in Silver.

Multan Sultans, last season’s runners-up and 2021 champions, have retained their captain Mohammad Rizwan and leg-spinner Usama Mir in the Platinum category.

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 Babar Azam, the highest run-scorer in PSL history, and dynamic batter Saim Ayub in Platinum.

Mohammad Haris has been retained in Diamond, while a trio of spin bowlers, Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, and Sufyan Moqim, have been retained in Silver while being named as team’s brand ambassador.

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

Quetta Gladiators have retained their star players Rilee Rossouw, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Amir in the Diamond category.

Amir, who will also serve as the team’s mentor, joins Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr in Gold. Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and Usman Tariq are retained in Silver. Saud Shakeel will also act as the Gladiators' brand ambassador.

Karachi Kings, the 2020 PSL champions, have retained 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, who have been one of the most successful teams in recent years, 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 are retained in Diamond. Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, and Zaman Khan are retained in Gold, while David Wiese is in Silver.

Additionally, 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 retention list:

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).