Teams announce player retentions for PSL 9

KARACHI: All six franchises of Pakistan Super League (PSL) have finalised their trades and player retentions ahead of the draft for the 2024 edition.

Reigning champions Lahore Qalandars have retained their captain Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Platinum category. In the Diamond category, Haris Rauf has been named the team’s brand ambassador. Sikandar Raza was retained in Gold while Rashid Khan retained in Silver.

Two-time champions Islamabad United have retained Shadab Khan, alongside their successful trade Naseem Shah in the Platinum category. Diamond-category Imad Wasim, who moved to Islamabad United from Karachi Kings, has been named the team’s Mentor, white Gold-category Faheeem Ashraf has been appointed the Brand Ambassador. Rumman Raees has been retained in Silver after a successful relegation request.

Multan Sultans have retained their captain Mohammad Rizwan in the Platinum category. Iftikhar Ahmed, successful trade with Quetta Gladiators, is Multan’s other Platinum player. HBL PSL 2023 player of the tournament, Ihsanullah, has been appointed the side’s Brand Ambassador and has been retained in the Silver category. Faisal Akram, after a successful trade with Karachi Kings, has been retained in Emerging.

Shan Masood and Shoaib Malik have both been retained in Gold by Karachi Kings. Shan Masood was traded for left-arm wrist-spinner Faisal Akram, ahead of the end of the trade window. Shan has also been named the Brand Ambassador while Malik has been appointed team Mentor. Mir Hamza has been retained in Silver, after a successful relegation request.

Quetta Gladiators have retained Rilee Rossouw in Platinum and Wanindu Hasaranga in Diamond. Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Abrar Ahmed, after a successful trade, have been retained in Diamond and Gold, respectively. Jason Roy has also been retained in Diamond. Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed Quetta Gladiator’s Brand Ambassador and is retained in the Gold category.

Babar Azam has been retained in Platinum by Peshawar Zalmi alongside West Indies power-hitter Rovman Powell. Mohammad Haris has been retained in the Gold category and has been named the Brand Ambassador as well.

Following the finalisation of all trades and retention, Multan Sultans will now have the first pick in the first round of the Platinum category, after Multan and Quetta traded Iftikhar Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw between them. Naseem Shah’s move to Islamabad United also saw their first round Platinum pick exchanged with Quetta Gladiator’s third-round Platinum pick.

Following Shan Masood’s move to Karachi Kings, their first-round Silver pick was exchanged for Multan Sultan’s fourth-round Silver pick. Owing to Imad Wasim’s move to Islamabad United, Islamabad’s first-round Silver pick has been exchanged with Karachi’s second-round Silver pick. Furthermore, Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators will be required to pick a local player in the Platinum category.

Each franchise was allotted a maximum of eight retentions. Barring Multan Sultans – who retained seven players – all franchises made full use of their retention.

Full retentions:

Lahore Qalandars (8) Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador) and David Wiese (both Diamond), Sikandar Raza, Abdullah Shafique and Zaman Khan (all Gold), Mirza Tahir Baig (Successful relegation request) and Rashid Khan (both Silver).

Islamabad United (8) Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah (both Platinum), Imad Wasim (Mentor) and Azam Khan (both Diamond), Faheem Ashraf (Brand Ambassador), Alex Hales and Colin Munro (all Gold), Rumman Raees (Successful relegation request in Silver).

Multan Sultans (7) Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed (both Platinum), Khushdil Shah and Usama Mir (both Diamond), Abbas Afridi (Gold), Ihsanullah (Brand Ambassador, Silver), Faisal Akram (Emerging).

Karachi Kings (8) James Vince and Hasan Ali (Diamond), Shan Masood (Brand Ambassador), Shoaib Malik (Mentor) and Tabraiz Shamsi (all Gold), Mir Hamza (Successful relegation request) and Muhammad Akhlaq (both Silver), Muhammad Irfan Khan (Emerging).