HBL PSL 10 player retentions announced ahead of draft

KARACHI: The six HBL PSL franchises have announced their retentions ahead of the HBL PSL 2025 Players Draft which is scheduled to take place on 11 January.

Each franchise was allowed a maximum of eight retentions from their previous squad. Three franchises made full use of the retentions except Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi – who retained seven players each.

Defending champions and three-time winners of the HBL PSL, Islamabad United have retained their skipper Shadab Khan, who was also player of the tournament in their successful campaign last season, and star fast bowler Naseem Shah in the Platinum category.

Imad Wasim, who is also named as the mentor of United, has been retained in Diamond along with Azam Khan. In Gold, Salman Ali Agha has been named as the brand ambassador while Haider Ali has also been retained in the same category.

Colin Munro, the second leading run-scorer among overseas batters in the HBL PSL history, has been retained in the Silver category alongside Rumman Raees.

Multan Sultans, the runners-up of the last edition and winners of the HBL PSL 2021, have retained captain Mohammad Rizwan and leg-spinner Usama Mir in Platinum.

David Willey, who is set to feature in his fourth HBL PSL edition, Iftikhar Ahmed and opening batter Usman Khan have been retained in the Diamond category. Willey is also named the mentor of the side while Iftikhar will be their brand ambassador.

England’s Chris Jordan, who has so far represented three franchises in the HBL PSL, has been retained in Gold while wrist-spinner Faisal Akram is stationed in the Silver category.

Babar Azam, the leading run-scorer (3504) in HBL PSL history and the skipper of the side, and dynamic batter Saim Ayub have been retained by one-time winners Peshawar Zalmi in Platinum.

Wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris has been retained in Diamond by Zalmi while spin bowling trio of Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim have been retained in Silver. Sufyan is the brand ambassador for Peshawar Zalmi.

Fast bowling sensation Ali Raza, who has just bagged maiden first-class ten-wicket haul in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 final, has been retained in the emerging category by Zalmi.

Quetta Gladiators have retained Rilee Rossouw, the leading run-getter among overseas batters in HBL PSL history, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and pacer Mohammad Amir in Diamond category. Amir will also be the mentor of the side.

Saud Shakeel, retained in the Gold category, is announced the brand ambassador for the Gladiators. No.1 ranked T20I bowler, Akeal Hosein and Mohammad Wasim Jnr have also been retained in Gold.

In the Silver category, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and spinner Usman Tariq have been retained by the 2019 winners.

The HBL PSL 2020 champions, Karachi Kings, have retained Hasan Ali and James Vince in Diamond. Skipper Shan Masood and emerging player/best fielder of the of the last edition, Muhammad Irfan Khan have been retained in Gold.

Full retentions:

Islamabad United: 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)

Multan Sultans: 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: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub (both Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Diamond), Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz and Sufyan Moqim (Brand Ambassador) (all silver), Ali Raza (Emerging)

Quetta Gladiators: 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)

Karachi Kings: 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)

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman (both Platinum), Haris Rauf (Brand Ambassador) and Sikandar Raza (both Diamond), Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan and Zaman Khan, David Wiese (Silver).