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Here Are PSL 9 Category Renewals for Local Players |
Nine players experienced category upgrades in the local player renewal process for PSL 9. Quetta Gladiators' Naseem Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed moved from diamond to platinum, while Sarfraz Ahmed transitioned to diamond from gold. Mohammad Haris of Peshawar Zalmi and Salman Irshad were promoted to diamond and gold, respectively.
Abbas Afridi and Ihsanullah from Multan Sultans advanced to the gold category. Islamabad United's Azam Khan and Faheem Ashraf shifted from gold to diamond. Several other players saw changes, with demotions for some.
The renewal process involved franchise representatives voting, and final categories were determined considering national and domestic performances. U23 players have restrictions on their emerging player status. Franchises will now submit relegation requests before finalizing retentions.
Franchise representatives played a crucial role in the category renewal process, casting votes for each player. Notably, teams couldn't vote for their own players but could submit review requests after the voting stage. A comprehensive review, led by Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla,
national selection committee member Tauseef Ahmad, and Manager Partnerships Shoaib Khalid, considered factors such as national and domestic performances, as well as the perceived T20 brand value of players.
The upcoming step involves franchises submitting relegation requests for players, initiating the retention process. Teams will have the opportunity to meet the base category of the players. If the base category is not matched, players may be relegated to a category below their base.
A key stipulation is that players who have represented Pakistan internationally cannot be relegated below the gold category. Additionally, U23 players face restrictions on their emerging player status, limiting their inclusion in squads for more than two years unless they've played nine or fewer matches in that period.
The renewed categories, team-wise, provide insights into the retained players for each franchise. Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators have made strategic decisions based on the performance assessments and voting outcomes.
This meticulous process not only sets the stage for player retention but also adds an element of strategy and negotiation as franchises aim to secure their desired line-ups for the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League.
