Pakistan Super League : Retentions announced

[MenInG]

Pakistan Super League Retentions Announced!
Remaining squads to be picked at Player Draft on November 20

November 13, 2018: All six Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams have finalized their retentions for the upcoming season today.

Last year’s champions Islamabad United retained all three Platinum players in Luke Ronchi, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf.

With Mohammad Hafeez going back into the Draft, Peshawar Zalmi opted for the pace duo of Wahab Riaz and Hassan Ali in their Platinum roster.

Zalmi will use their lone Platinum pick at the Draft to pick a foreign player. Seasoned wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal moves to Diamond as Player Ambassador.

Karachi Kings retained Mohammad Amir, Babar Azam and Black Caps opening batsman Colin Munro as their Platinum picks with South African all-rounder Colin Ingram moving to Diamond as Player Ambassador.

New signing Sunil Narine, who moved from Lahore Qalandars to Quetta Gladiators as part of a blockbuster trade, joins Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to complete Quetta’s Platinum retentions. Star Australian all-rounder Shane Watson moves to Diamond as Player Mentor.

The Sixth Team’s retentions include star Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik in Platinum and left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan in Diamond as Player Ambassador.

Lahore Qalandars, who have the first pick at this season’s Draft, retained opening batsman Fakhar Zaman as their only Platinum player while leg-spinner Yasir Shah was retained in Diamond.

Teams without Ambassadors or Mentors may nominate such appointments by close of business 13 November.

The Player Draft will be held on November 20, 2018 and Pakistan Super League returns to action on 14 February 2019!

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Don’t think Mohammad Junaid was in MS squad. Thought they picked Abdullah Shafique and Saif Badar as their emerging player last year.

 

[ARK Rafay]

So Ambassadors and Mentors is just a formality to let teams retain one more player?

 

[ARK Rafay]

Reports were suggesting that Fakhar Zaman was close to be released by Lahore Qalandars today
Who are trying to make space for Shahid Afridi supposedly

Thank God they have decided to keep him, but why did it get to this point in the first place?

I really want to know who is calling the shots at LQ, is it Aqib Javed or the Rana brothers?
Whoever it is, is further feeding the idea that LQ are clueless when it comes to selecting a team and brainless at the draft.

You can’t even feel sorry for them anymore

The only batsman who performed for LQs. And they were making space for Shahid Afridi?

Fire Aqib Javed and co. They've manipulated poor Rana Fawad

 

[UN talkz]

Don’t think Mohammad Junaid was in MS squad. Thought they picked Abdullah Shafique and Saif Badar as their emerging player last year.

He was part of QG

 

[Hedz]

He was part of QG

May have been a possible trade which they haven’t announced yet

 

[Hedz]

Quetta Gladiators has done a brilliant job, best business outside of the draft, hoping they back it up with some good picks in the draft and form a formidable squad

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Quetta Gladiators has done a brilliant job, best business outside of the draft, hoping they back it up with some good picks in the draft and form a formidable squad

But why Watson again? He probably wont go to Pakistan for play offs.

 

[mak36]

So Ambassadors and Mentors is just a formality to let teams retain one more player?

It's still ten I think.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Are Rashid Khan and Mujeeb part of list of players in platinum and Diamond category ?

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Are Rashid Khan and Mujeeb part of list of players in platinum and Diamond category ?

Not sure about Rashid( but I do think he's in platinum).

Mujeeb is in the Diamond category.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Not sure about Rashid( but I do think he's in platinum).

Mujeeb is in the Diamond category.

Thanks yar

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Smart move by KK, PZ and QG to demote Ingram, Kamran and Watson into Diamond but giving them Ambassador/Mentor role.

But it basically means paying an amount equal to five platinum players.

 

[mak36]

But why Watson again? He probably wont go to Pakistan for play offs.

QG's batting looks light. I assume QG have had assurances from Watson he will come to Pakistan, otherwise they are fools.

 

[mak36]

Are Rashid Khan and Mujeeb part of list of players in platinum and Diamond category ?

QG did have first choice on Rashid, but looks like they haven't retained him.

 

[mak36]

Shocking decision by IU to retain Waqas Maqsood over Amad Butt!!

 

[Titan24]

Any info on Mohammad Junaid?

 

[Titan24]

Shocking decision by IU to retain Waqas Maqsood over Amad Butt!!

Yes Amad would have been an excellent retention but Waqas has shown some good T20 bowling ability with different kinds of slow balls and variations. So it was must be a tough decision, cant blame them especially when they have Shadab, Fahim and Talat as all rounders.

You never know he might get selected by any other team as be sure is a good prospect.

 

[mak36]

IU have managed to retain their core.
KK have retained their core, but retaining Bopara is a bit of a surprise. Releasing Afridi is a sign KK have the ruthless streak needed to succeed.
LQ are basically having a revamp, but surprised they retained Yasir at that high a category.
PZ bowling unit is settled but they will be looking for batsmen, surprised they retained Khalid Usman. Will they resign Asghar?
QG's batting looks weak, surprised at their retention of Rilee.
TST looks weak.

 

[mak36]

Aamer Yamin, Bilal Asif, Amad Butt have all been released

Asghar and Haris have been released

 

[Titan24]

I guess LQ should go for Amad Butt as they havent retained Aamir Yamin. With Hassan Khan can give them decent batting depth which they have been lacking.

 

[Titan24]

IU have managed to retain their core.
KK have retained their core, but retaining Bopara is a bit of a surprise. Releasing Afridi is a sign KK have the ruthless streak needed to succeed.
LQ are basically having a revamp, but surprised they retained Yasir at that high a category.
PZ bowling unit is settled but they will be looking for batsmen, surprised they retained Khalid Usman. Will they resign Asghar?
QG's batting looks weak, surprised at their retention of Rilee.
TST looks weak.

Asghar struggled with PZ last season however he seems to have found decent form again.

Raza Hassan has also been released

 

[Titan24]

Some good chocies available for LQ to make a pretty decent team. Haris among top 4 and Amad in that bowling all rounder role while Rohail Nazir can be selected as keeper.

 

[mak36]

Asghar struggled with PZ last season however he seems to have found decent form again.

Raza Hassan has also been released

Asghar bowled okay in the first half of the PSL without much luck. In his penultimate game he was mauled by Watson, but Sammy had actually dropped Watson off Asghar's first ball. Off the back of that Asghar was dropped from the side and his confidence took a knock. Glad to see he has rediscovered his form.

Raza is finished IMO.

 

[mak36]

Some good chocies available for LQ to make a pretty decent team. Haris among top 4 and Amad in that bowling all rounder role while Rohail Nazir can be selected as keeper.

The other franchises have definitely helped LQ!

(P.S. Umair Masood is better.)

 

[Shaddy86]

Where's Afridi? Are Karachi not keeping him or is he not playing?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Where's Afridi? Are Karachi not keeping him or is he not playing?

Karachi has released him, he is back in the draft that will take place on November 20.

 

[Abdullah719]

PSL Update:

Shaheen Shah Afridi appointed LQ Ambassador, drops down to Silver.

This means Lahore will go to the Draft with four Silver players namely Shaheen Shah (Ambassador), Sohail Akhtar, Hassan Khan and Agha Salman.

Since Lahore Qalandars have already traded their second round Silver pick with Quetta Gladiators, the Qalandars have given up their first round Silver pick as a result of this move.

 

[ataullah]

Wasim Akram leaving 6th team and likely going to Karachi kings as president. Good for Muhammad Aamir???

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[The Viper]

Keeping Watto is a bad idea. He most likely won’t commit and that means Quetta’s batting will be depleted again. QG need to give Saud a go this time.

 

[j_kazmi]

Karachi has released him, he is back in the draft that will take place on November 20.

It would be nice to see him go back to Peshawar. But I get the feeling Karachi might rebuy him because I think there is a limit on the number of players you can retain?

 

[the Great Khan]

My Team Islu looking consistent and strong again. I wonder who we will pick in the draft? I think we need another pacer or a solid bat..

 

[Arsalan Pro]

It would be nice to see him go back to Peshawar. But I get the feeling Karachi might rebuy him because I think there is a limit on the number of players you can retain?

Karachi can't pick him, each team is allowed 3 Platinum players in their Squad and they already have Amir, Babar and Munro so Karachi don't have any turn in Platinum round to pick any player

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Is Denlly not available? Otherwise KK not retaining him doesn’t make any sense.

 

[m.awais]

I don't think afridi would be picked in platinum category. Maybe he drops down and Karachi pick him in diamond category.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

I don't think afridi would be picked in platinum category. Maybe he drops down and Karachi pick him in diamond category.

They already have three players in diamond category.

 

[Hedz]

But why Watson again? He probably wont go to Pakistan for play offs.

Don’t understand that myself, unless his stance of travelling to Pakistan has changed, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to retain him

 

[Hedz]

Afridi set to play for Quetta according to reports
They lack a finisher and as they are not retaining Rashid Khan, they can do with another leg spinner

 

[hailian]

The only batsman who performed for LQs. And they were making space for Shahid Afridi?

Fire Aqib Javed and co. They've manipulated poor Rana Fawad

Totally agree. Dumb Aqib Javed has ruined Lahore badly!

 

[MenInG]

Where's Afridi? Are Karachi not keeping him or is he not playing?

He has been released by KK.

 

[Titan24]

Wasim Akram leaving 6th team and likely going to Karachi kings as president. Good for Muhammad Aamir???

If there is one guy who can help Amir to rediscover himself its Wasim so if that happens it will be good for him.

 

[Sadozai]

Good job done by the Kings by releasing Afridi.. Now they should pick Rashid Khan at any cost.

 

[Titan24]

If LQ is going for ABD while IU has already got few all rounders in their squad and KK and PZ are not picking Afridi again. I think we might see Afridi in either QG or the 6th team.

 

[Titan24]

Some decent spinners up for the grab in Raza Hassan, Usama Mir and Mohammad Asghar along with emerging fast bowlers in Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Musa, Mohammad Husnain etc

 

[Titan24]

Any info on Mohammad Junaid?

I guess nobody knows.

Must be good though as he is selected over Saif Badar and Abdullah Shafique

 

[Sadozai]

Good job done by the Kings by releasing Afridi.. Now they should pick Rashid Khan at any cost.

Oops they already have 3 players in platinum :-(

 

[mak36]

I guess nobody knows.

Must be good though as he is selected over Saif Badar and Abdullah Shafique

I think both of them are in silver.

 

[Ummii]

Surprised to see QG released Azam Khan and Asad Shafiq, I'd can see LQ or KK buy Ahmed Shehzad in Silver category.

 

[Ummii]

If there is one guy who can help Amir to rediscover himself its Wasim so if that happens it will be good for him.

I didn't see anywhere that Wasim is going to join KK.

 

[MMHS]

What are the Caps:

1. Total Roster
2. Foreign Quota - in squad, in playing XI
3. Platinum
4. Diamond
5. Gold
6. Silver
7. Emerging - in squad, in playing XI

 

[TeymurBlake]

Surprised to see Sohail Akhtar retained but Aamir Yamin released from Lahore Qalandars.

Also what will the sixth team be called?

 

[Hamad_H]

I see the 6th team selecting Afridi on the basis that it will make that team more attractive to potential buyers as the marketing value of Afridi is immense.

 

[Sadozai]

What are the Caps:

1. Total Roster
2. Foreign Quota - in squad, in playing XI
3. Platinum
4. Diamond
5. Gold
6. Silver
7. Emerging - in squad, in playing XI

Total Roster (less supplementary) = 16
Foreign Quota in squad = 8
Foreign Quota in playing XI = 4
Platinum = 3
Diamond = 3
Gold = 3
Silver = 5
Emerging in squad = 2
Emerging in playing XI = 1

 

[Salman4.]

Quetta let Shafiq go which is great. But they also let Amin, Mir Hamza and Saad Ali go which is not good.

 

[hailian]

Surprised to see Sohail Akhtar retained but Aamir Yamin released from Lahore Qalandars.

Also what will the sixth team be called?

What else do you accept from Aaqib javed?

 

[hailian]

Surpised to see 6th team retained Shan Masood but let go Ahmed Shahazad, Sohaib Maqsood and Hairs Suhail? This doesn't make any sense

 

[MMHS]

Total Roster (less supplementary) = 16
Foreign Quota in squad = 8
Foreign Quota in playing XI = 4
Platinum = 3
Diamond = 3
Gold = 3
Silver = 5
Emerging in squad = 2
Emerging in playing XI = 1

Thank you so much. I am not sure about supplementary rule, but keeping that a side, I think IU has limited themselves by blocking too many players in higher tier. Last year, there was WC qualifier, and ENG/SAF was busy with home series, but this year more WIN players should be free. They have blocked 3 Platinum & 2 diamond spots (& that batting card isn't sufficient), therefore only can offer one Diamond spot to a top batsman. And, IU has retained 10 players as well, so they can offer is 1 Diamond, 2 Golds, 1 Silver & couple of emerging - not enough, I guess and they'll be last in draft, hence not much chance to get Hales either. Karachi has done same, but at least they have 5-6 top International players for top 2 bracket.

From that break-up, excluding supplementary, I think LQ can build a tremendous team this year (considering that Rahat can match his last year as Gold pick). LQ has 1st pick for most rounds, therefore they have 2 Plats, 2 Diamond & 2 emerging picks left; and they can pick 7 foreigners yet.

 

[TeymurBlake]

What else do you accept from Aaqib javed?

Not much really.

 

[m.awais]

i think foreigners quota per team is 5 not 8

 

[Barragan]

Surprised Multan let go of Maqsood, but retained shan masood and PZ letting go of Asghar.

Also, why are the pcb naming it 'the 6th team'?

How are fans meant to associate with that team?

There is absolutely no link and they should have at least kept the name of the city, Multan!

 

[Barragan]

Surprised Multan let go of Maqsood, but retained shan masood and PZ letting go of Asghar.

Also, why are the pcb naming it 'the 6th team'?

How are fans meant to associate with that team?

There is absolutely no link and they should have at least kept the name of the city, Multan!

Also to add, don't think IU have done well with their platinum picks.

Don't think Ronchi will be successful this time and Faheem isn't worth platinum.

Ronchi has hardly played cricket and he didn't do well in the afghan league either, plus he is 37 and is on the decline fast.

IU are generally smart, but they definitely made a blunder there.

 

[ads101]

Kind of surprised Lahore retained so many players I would have just retained Shaheen and Fakhar lol. But think they are feeling the squeeze. I think teams allow too many players to be retained, it's not fair. IU has basically retained their entire team. You're going to have the scenario where the weaker teams once behind can't really catch up as the new players coming into PSL are fewer/less good.

I am disappointed too IU retained Zafar Gohar. It feels more like a retention in case they need him/don't want others to have him. It's not a retention that they badly needed. Which is a sign too many retentions are allowed if you could do stuff like this. He's not going to get time to shine again likely with shadab around, when a lot of sides would give him games. And in national teams interests, we need to see Zafar at this level more. Not hating on IU, they're my favourite team.

I think the maximum no. that can be retained should be something like 6.

 

[Square Drive]

Surprised to see Zafar and Saud retained by their respective teams, after not even getting ample chances last year.

 

[run-out]

When is the draft?

 

[UN talkz]

May have been a possible trade which they haven’t announced yet

Sold Sohail Tanvir to Quetta Gladiators for Diamond-round pick, bought Mohammad Junaid from Quetta Gladiator in exchange for second pick in Emerging Category

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Yes Amad would have been an excellent retention but Waqas has shown some good T20 bowling ability with different kinds of slow balls and variations. So it was must be a tough decision, cant blame them especially when they have Shadab, Fahim and Talat as all rounders.

You never know he might get selected by any other team as be sure is a good prospect.

Amad has no place in the side as long as Faheem is playing

 

[ARK Rafay]

Kind of surprised Lahore retained so many players I would have just retained Shaheen and Fakhar lol. But think they are feeling the squeeze. I think teams allow too many players to be retained, it's not fair. IU has basically retained their entire team. You're going to have the scenario where the weaker teams once behind can't really catch up as the new players coming into PSL are fewer/less good.

I am disappointed too IU retained Zafar Gohar. It feels more like a retention in case they need him/don't want others to have him. It's not a retention that they badly needed. Which is a sign too many retentions are allowed if you could do stuff like this. He's not going to get time to shine again likely with shadab around, when a lot of sides would give him games. And in national teams interests, we need to see Zafar at this level more. Not hating on IU, they're my favourite team.

I think the maximum no. that can be retained should be something like 6.

6-8 would be ideal. 10 is a bit too much

 

[Hedz]

Surpised to see 6th team retained Shan Masood but let go Ahmed Shahazad, Sohaib Maqsood and Hairs Suhail? This doesn't make any sense

Haris Sohail was at PZ last year not MS
Ahmad Shehzad was really poor last year, releasing him is not at all surprising
Sohaib Maqsood case is slightly surprising though

 

[DRsohail]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] what is your calculation about Zafar Gohar getting game in IU strong squad.

 

[MMHS]

[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] what is your calculation about Zafar Gohar getting game in IU strong squad.

Let’s see the complete squad first. I think, last year Misbah was in charge (though as non playing captain), and they played a 35 years old guy as SLAO spinner (some Imran or similar name) - but I don’t see his name in retention list, and since then only major change in IU is that Misbah was politely axed. Unless they pick someone like Shakib (won’t be available for most part), this should suggest that Gohar might start this year.

In UAE, spin is king & more so in T20 - Shadab & Gohar should start every game regardless of whoever they hire as 3rd spinner.

 

[DRsohail]

Let’s see the complete squad first. I think, last year Misbah was in charge (though as non playing captain), and they played a 35 years old guy as SLAO spinner (some Imran or similar name) - but I don’t see his name in retention list, and since then only major change in IU is that Misbah was politely axed. Unless they pick someone like Shakib (won’t be available for most part), this should suggest that Gohar might start this year. They played Samiti patael over him I reckon.

In UAE, spin is king & more so in T20 - Shadab & Gohar should start every game regardless of whoever they hire as 3rd spinner.

they played samit patel over him I reckon.

 

[MMHS]

they played samit patel over him I reckon.

Yes, now I can recall. Imran Khalid probably played in previous 2 years.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Humble suggestion to Technical committee of <a href="https://twitter.com/thePSLt20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thePSLt20</a> to Revamp Retained players criteria,It wil give a Great chance to all the Teams to make a Fresh look of their sides & bring more competitiveness in Matches,10 Retentions r too much,5 Regular + 1 Emerging ,what’s ur opinion?</p>— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) <a href="https://twitter.com/MHafeez22/status/1106872296935964672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Even with 5 PZ, QG and IU will be able to retain their core and remain the most successful franchises.