Cricket enthusiasts are excitedly anticipating the ninth edition of Pakistan’s premier cricket tournament. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has just revealed the order in which players will be selected in the draft for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Quetta Gladiators will make the first pick in the PSL 2024 player draft followed by Karachi Kings and two-time winners Islamabad United with second and third picks, respectively.
Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi will make the fourth pick, and Multan Sultans, who were the runners-up in PSL-8, will make the fifth pick in the player draft. After them, Lahore Qalandars will have the sixth pick in the first round.
“The selection order for the first round for the Platinum category is determined by the inverse order of the previous season’s standings. In order to make the pick order more equitable, a different franchise shall occupy the first pick in the first round of each category,” the board said in a press release.
Quetta Gladiators will begin the Platinum picks, Karachi Kings will have the first diamond pick, Peshawar Zalmi will have the opening gold pick, Multan Sultans will have the first pick in the silver category, Islamabad United will pick the first player in the emerging category and Lahore Qalandars will have the first supplementary pick.
“The PCB has previously opened the registration window for foreign players. The flagship event is tentatively scheduled from February 8 to March 24, 2024,” the press release added.
The board mentioned that teams in the league will let the organizers know which players they want to let go before they decide on keeping any players.
If a player’s skill level is suggested to be lowered, all teams get a chance to keep the player in their current category. If the teams don’t agree to this and the player’s skill level isn’t maintained, the player might be moved to a lower category, as per the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PSL 9 Draft is likely to take place in mid-December following the conclusion of the National T20.