In preparation for the upcoming ninth edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), all six teams have made strategic moves in the Replacement Draft, bringing in supplementary and replacement players. The tournament is set to kick off on February 17, promising fans an exhilarating season.
Peshawar Zalmi’s Strategic Picks:
Peshawar Zalmi made key replacements, opting for Waqar Salamkheil in the silver category to fill in for Lungi Ngidi, who won’t be available for the entire season.
Fast bowler Khurram Shahzad’s partial availability led to the selection of Arshad Iqbal in the silver category as his replacement. Gus Atkinson steps in for Noor Ahmed, and the team has a reserved pick for the partially available Naveen ul Haq.
Lahore Qalandars’ Calculated Reservations:
Lahore Qalandars strategically reserved picks for Rashid Khan, who is fully unavailable, and Dan Lawrence, who is only partially available for the franchise.
Notable Changes Across Teams:
Islamabad United reserved their pick for Tom Curran, Karachi Kings called in Zahid Mehmood as a partial replacement for Kieron Pollard, and they also reserved a pick for Tim Seifert after the New Zealand T20Is.
Quetta Gladiators’ Bismillah Khan replaces Wanindu Hasaranga, who will leave the squad during the tournament due to international commitments.
Exciting Supplementary Picks:
The Replacement Draft witnessed some intriguing supplementary picks. Peshawar Zalmi secured left-arm pacer Luke Wood in the first pick of the third supplementary round, while Islamabad United added Obed McCoy in the second pick.
Karachi Kings picked English batter Leus De Plooy, and Lahore Qalandars brought in Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Multan Sultans chose experienced West Indian wicketkeeper-batter Johnson Charles, and Quetta Gladiators drafted English batter Laurie Evans.
Youthful Talents Join the Mix:
Multan Sultans bagged the talented 19-year-old Muhammad Shahzad in the fourth round of the Supplementary picks.
Islamabad United added Haider Ali to their squad, marking his fifth HBL PSL season.
Lahore Qalandars picked Tayyab Abbas, a promising product of their player development program.
Karachi Kings drafted 21-year-old Mohammad Rohid to strengthen their squad.
The HBL PSL promises intense competition with these strategic player acquisitions, setting the stage for a thrilling ninth edition.
