LAHORE: The six franchises of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Saturday unveiled their player retentions ahead of the HBL PSL 2025 Players Draft, scheduled for January 11.
Each team was allowed to retain a maximum of eight players from their previous squad.
While three franchises made full use of the retention limit, Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, and Peshawar Zalmi opted to retain seven players each.
Defending Champions: Islamabad United
Three-time champions Islamabad United have retained their captain, Shadab Khan, and fast bowler Naseem Shah in the Platinum category.
Shadab, the Player of the Tournament in the previous edition, will continue to lead the side.
All-rounder Imad Wasim, now serving as the team's mentor, and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan have been retained in the Diamond category.
In Gold, Salman Ali Agha has been named as the brand ambassador alongside Haider Ali.
In the Silver category, overseas batter Colin Munro, the second-leading run-scorer among international players in PSL history, joins pacer Rumman Raees.
Multan Sultans
Runners-up of the 2024 edition and champions of PSL 2021, Multan Sultans, have retained captain Mohammad Rizwan and leg-spinner Usama Mir in Platinum.
In Diamond, England's David Willey, who is also the team's mentor, joins Iftikhar Ahmed (brand ambassador) and opener Usman Khan.
Chris Jordan has been retained in Gold, while emerging wrist-spinner Faisal Akram is in the Silver category.
Peshawar Zalmi
One-time champions Peshawar Zalmi have retained their captain Babar Azam, the all-time leading run-scorer in PSL history, and batter Saim Ayub in Platinum.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris has been retained in Diamond. Meanwhile, spinners Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, and Sufyan Moqim have been retained in Silver, with Sufyan also serving as the brand ambassador.
Fast bowler Ali Raza, who recently claimed a 10-wicket haul in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, has been retained in the Emerging category.
Quetta Gladiators
The Gladiators have retained overseas star Rilee Rossouw, mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed, and pacer Mohammad Amir (mentor) in the Diamond category.
In Gold, Saud Shakeel (brand ambassador), Akeal Hosein, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr have been retained. Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and spinner Usman Tariq complete the roster in the Silver category.
Karachi Kings
The 2020 champions have retained pacer Hasan Ali and English batter James Vince in Diamond. Skipper Shan Masood and emerging player Muhammad Irfan Khan have been kept in Gold.
Spinner Arafat Minhas, named as the brand ambassador, joins Tim Seifert and Zahid Mehmood in Silver.
Lahore Qalandars
Two-time champions Lahore Qalandars have retained their key players, including captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and opener Fakhar Zaman, in Platinum.
Brand ambassador Haris Rauf and Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza remain in Diamond, while Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, and Zaman Khan have been kept in Gold.
Veteran all-rounder David Wiese is retained in the Silver category.
Draft Order and Picks
The Lahore Qalandars will have the first pick in the Platinum category, followed by Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators.
Full Retentions List
Islamabad United (8):
- Platinum: Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah
- Diamond: Imad Wasim (mentor), Azam Khan
- Gold: Salman Ali Agha (brand ambassador), Haider Ali
- Silver: Colin Munro, Rumman Raees
Multan Sultans (7):
- Platinum: Mohammad Rizwan, Usama Mir
- Diamond: David Willey (mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (brand ambassador), Usman Khan
- Gold: Chris Jordan
- Silver: Faisal Akram
Peshawar Zalmi (7):
- Platinum: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub
- Diamond: Mohammad Haris
- Silver: Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufyan Moqim (brand ambassador)
- Emerging: Ali Raza
Quetta Gladiators (8):
- Diamond: Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir (mentor), Rilee Rossouw
- Gold: Saud Shakeel (brand ambassador), Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Wasim Jnr
- Silver: Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Usman Tariq
Karachi Kings (7):
- Diamond: Hasan Ali, James Vince
- Gold: Shan Masood, Muhammad Irfan Khan
- Silver: Arafat Minhas (brand ambassador), Tim Seifert, Zahid Mehmood
Lahore Qalandars (8):
- Platinum: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman
- Diamond: Haris Rauf (brand ambassador), Sikandar Raza
- Gold: Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan
- Silver: David Wiese
Moreover, the PCB also announced the successful category relegation requests for the following players.
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)