The most anticipated PSL 2021 is just around the corner and with that being said, players draft for all six franchise is finally dropped. But, with the squads renewed, we have observed some major revisions in the performers as the franchises picked the best of the best knights for the upcoming t20 cricket combat.
It has been a few months since PSL 5 concluded with declaring the invincible Karachi Kings as the first time trophy-holders. The previous season had been a great bombshell on all. Many flabbergasting crease events occurred that left the whole PSL universe astounding. The first time champions Gladiators and two times winner Islamabad United were first to be eliminated. Additionally, the final match was battled between the least projected Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings.
Hence, the PSL 5 was a lesson to be remembered for all the six franchise. And, it looks like the men behind the squads are ready to start off from where the bat ball clash was left. Keeping the players performances from the 5th edition in mind, the all six troops have undergone some major changes like never before. Many consistent players were released, followed with multiple new cricketers joining the tournament for the first time.
Hence, below is the complete and finalized PSL 2021 players draft, pronounced after the pick event held in Lahore during weekend. The tournament will kick in from 22nd February with Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium and Karaci’s national stadium as hosts.
Read More: PCB confirms PSL 2021 schedule
PSL 2021 Players Draft
Karachi Kings
The defending champions Karachi Kings have retained its star players Babar Azam and Muhammad Amir, alongside Captain Imad Wasim, Amir Yamin, Sharjeel Khan, Waqas Maqsood and Arshad Iqbal. However the unswerving batsman Alex Hales was traded with Colin Ingram in platinum category.
In the Diamond Category, the blue shirts opted for two all-rounders, world’s No.1 ranked Mohammad Nabi and Dan Christian of Australia. Gold category houses the challenging Chadwick Walton likewise previous season, whereas Danish Aziz, Joe Clarke, Mohammad Ilyas and Zeeshan Malik were selected in Silver category in the PSL 6 2021 draft. Qasim Akram and Noor Ahmed lie in emerging and supplementary categories respectively.
Quetta Gladiators
The purple forces are all set to bounce back in the PSL 6 2021 and their robust players draft radiates it. The squad had a hard luck previous season and the team is well equipped this time.
Quetta Gladiators went strong and snapped up England’s explosive Tom Banton and Universe Boss, Chris Gayle in their platinum category. While, the legendary Sarfaraz Ahmed alongside Ben Cutting, Muhmmad Hasnain, Muhammad Nawaz, Azam Khan, Naseem Shah, Zahid Mehmood and Anwer ali were retained.
Moreover, the Qalandar’s Usman Shinwari acquires a gold category in Gladiator’s PSL 2021 draft, whereas Karachi King’s Cameron Delport, Qais Ahmed and Abdul Nasir were selected for Silver.
Here to mention, the veteran Ahmed Shehzad will not be part of the tournament this year.
Peshawar Zalmi
To Zalmi’s dismay, the highly celebrated Darren Sammy is not coming back for the PSL 2021 edition and hence wasn’t named in draft. Nevertheless, the Yellow shirts have gathered up quite a handful of players, who are ready to give the opponents, tough time on pitch.
The franchise retains the old-stager trio of Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal together with Liam Livingstone and Haider Ali. But, Hasan Ali, who had been part of the franchise for all the five seasons, was released this time.
Furthermore, in platinum category, David Miller was snapped by Peshawar Zalmi as the left-hander and is now set to become the latest South African to make his HBL Pakistan Super League debut. Also, to make things worse for the rivals this PSL 2 2021, the franchise’s draft house world’s No.2 ranked T20I bowler Mujeeb Ur Rehman of Afghanistan, continued with Guyana’s all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford.
For their gold category, Zalmi snapped Ahmed butt, whereas silver names Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Saqib Mahmood and Umaid Asif.
Multan Sultans
The emerging and audacious Sultans remained the supreme franchise throughout the 5th edition, being the table toppers till playoffs. And, the troop is returning with same force and passion.
The critically acclaimed Shahid Afridi, beside Sohail Tanvir, Rilee Rossouw, Imran Tahir, Khushdil Shah, James Vince, Shan Masood and Usman Qadir were retained in PSL 2021 draft by the Sultans.
In platinum category, the Afridi held side grabbed Qalandar’s Chris Lynn. Diamond and gold remains empty whereas Silver houses Adam Lyth, Mohammad Rizwan, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohaibullah and Sohail Khan.
Lahore Qalandars
The runner up squad of 2020, Qalandars dazzled the spectators with their struggling comeback in the previous season and garnered huge appreciations. Likewise, the Fawad Rana’s squad is fully equiped this time also.
Qalandars have retained the professor Muhammad Hafiz, the mastered young pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, the run machines Ben Dunk and David Weise, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Dilbar Hussain and Sohail Tanvir.
In addition, world’s No.1 T20I bowler Rashid Khan of Afghanistan was scooped by Lahore Qalandars in their platinum category and Samit Patel for Gold. Mohammad Faizan, Tom Abell, Salman Ali Agha and Zeeshan Ashraf lies in Silver.
Islamabad United
The two times champion, the red forces had an ill fortune previous year, but the team is assertive this time and their PSL 2021 players draft justifies that.
United strengthened its side by King’s flawless performer Alex Hales, followed with retaining the unbeatable pacer Shadab Khan, Colin Munro, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Musa Khan and Zafar Gohar.
Hasan Ali of Zalmi was taken in for platinum, with Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory in Diamond.
Moreover, Phil Salt was selected for Gold, where Iftikhar Ahmad, Reece Topley and Rohail Nazir were picked for Silver.
Read More: Abu Dhabi T10 League 2021 – 12 Pakistani players drafted
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