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PSL Draft 2018 held in Islamabad

Dunya News

All the six teams while adding several new cricketers retained their main players.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Drafting for the fourth installment of Pakistan Super League (PSL) was held in Islamabad on Tuesday where all the six teams while adding several new cricketers retained their main players.

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ehsan Mani expressed the hope that all PSL matches would take place in the country during the next two to three years.

In a bid to end their miserable run in PSL, Lahore Qalandars picked former South African batsman AB de Villiers aka Mrs360 degree and all-rounder Mohammd Hafeez in the player draft.

Both have been picked under platinum category along with West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, New Zealand’s Corey Anderson and Nepali leg spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

Fawad Rana, the owner of Lahore Qalandars, vowed his team would pose a tough challenge to other PSL outfits.

The Sixth team, formerly Multan Sultans, roped in former Australian captain Steve Smith and ex-Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi. Besides them, Pakistan’s left arm fast bowler Muhammad Irfan, England opener Joe Denly, Afghanistan leg-spinner Qais Ahmed and West Indian wicket-keeper batsman Nicolas Pooran became part of the team in the gold category.

Team’s captain Shoaib Malik asserted that it is the responsibility of the player to go on the field and give their best without worrying about the outcomes.

Defending champions Islamabad United, bagged the services of a trio of English cricketers including Ian Bell, Samit Patel and Phil Salt.

Former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq while exiting Islamabad United will now play for Peshawar Zalmi which also features West Indian batsman Kieron Pollard, England opener Dawid Malan and Pakistan batsman Umar Amin.

Quetta Gladiators drafted in West Indian spinner Sunil Narine and his compatriot Dwayne Bravo as their other platinum player.

Karachi Kings will feature Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir, batsman Babar Azam and New Zealand’s Colin Munro. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has joined them as president.

PSL will also feature two players of Pakistani-origin --- Zimbabwe batsman Sikandar Raza and Australian spinner Fawad Ahmed.

All six teams picked players from 663 foreign and local players, available in the Draft. 

The glitzy PSL event begins from February 14 next year in the UAE. However; the last eight matches, including the final in Karachi on March 17, are slated to be held in the country. 

The inaugural edition of the Twenty20 league was totally played in the UAE, the final of the second edition was played in Lahore while the last edition saw two matches in Lahore and the final in Karachi.

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