By Zainab Shafiq 
The HBL PSL 2025 season is heating up as all six franchises have confirmed their player retentions ahead of the much-anticipated Players’ Draft, scheduled for January 11. The retentions feature top-tier talent, with three teams opting for the maximum eight-player limit while the rest retained seven players each. This year’s draft is set to include 510 players from 19 countries, ensuring a highly competitive season starting April 8 and running until May 19.
Teams Finalize Squads Ahead of PSL 10
Defending champions Islamabad United are leading the charge with strategic retentions. Their star captain Shadab Khan, the Player of the Tournament last season, and pacer Naseem Shah have been retained in the Platinum category. Other key players include Imad Wasim (mentor) and Azam Khan in Diamond, while Colin Munro and Rumman Raees bolster the Silver category.
Multan Sultans, last year’s runners-up, have retained skipper Mohammad Rizwan and spinner Usama Mir in Platinum. They’ve also secured David Willey as a mentor and Iftikhar Ahmed as their brand ambassador in Diamond. England’s Chris Jordan adds strength in Gold, with Faisal Akram completing the Silver lineup.
Peshawar Zalmi has retained their iconic captain Babar Azam and Saim Ayub in Platinum. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris continues in Diamond, while their Silver category showcases young talent like Arif Yaqoob and Mehran Mumtaz, with Sufyan Moqim as the brand ambassador.
Quetta Gladiators bank on the experience of Rilee Rossouw and Mohammad Amir (mentor), along with Abrar Ahmed in Diamond. Rising talents like Saud Shakeel (brand ambassador) and Khawaja Mohammad Nafay round out their squad.
Karachi Kings retained Hasan Ali and James Vince in Diamond, while Shan Masood and emerging star Muhammad Irfan Khan headline their Gold category. Spinner Arafat Minhas, also their brand ambassador, strengthens their Silver lineup.
Finally, Lahore Qalandars, the two-time PSL champions, retained Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman in Platinum. Haris Rauf (brand ambassador) and Sikandar Raza anchor the Diamond category, while Abdullah Shafique and David Wiese provide depth in Gold and Silver, respectively.
The Players’ Draft will be crucial for teams to fill gaps and strengthen their squads. Lahore Qalandars have the first Platinum pick, followed by Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in subsequent rounds.
HBL PSL 2025 Retentions
| Team | Retained Players |
|---|---|
| Islamabad United | Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah (Platinum), Imad Wasim (mentor), Azam Khan (Diamond), Salman Ali Agha (Gold), Haider Ali (Gold), Colin Munro, Rumman Raees (Silver) |
| Multan Sultans | Mohammad Rizwan, Usama Mir (Platinum), David Willey (mentor), Iftikhar Ahmed (brand ambassador), Usman Khan (Diamond), Chris Jordan (Gold), Faisal Akram (Silver) |
| Peshawar Zalmi | Babar Azam, Saim Ayub (Platinum), Mohammad Haris (Diamond), Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz, Sufyan Moqim (brand ambassador) (Silver), Ali Raza (Emerging) |
| Quetta Gladiators | Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Amir (mentor), Abrar Ahmed (Diamond), Akeal Hosein, Saud Shakeel (brand ambassador), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Gold), Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Usman Tariq (Silver) |
| Karachi Kings | Hasan Ali, James Vince (Diamond), Shan Masood, Muhammad Irfan Khan (Gold), Arafat Minhas (brand ambassador), Tim Seifert, Zahid Mehmood (Silver) |
| Lahore Qalandars | Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman (Platinum), Haris Rauf (brand ambassador), Sikandar Raza (Diamond), Abdullah Shafique, Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan (Gold), David Wiese (Silver) |
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