Pakistan’s Test stalwart Younis Khan, who led the national team to its only World T20 title in 2009, remained unsold while captain Misbah-ul-Haq was snapped up by Islamabad franchise on the first day of Players’ Draft for the Pakistan Super League today.
Thirty-eight years old Younis, who was kept in the top platinum category carrying a price tag of between USD 80 to 145,000, was overlooked in the draft held in Lahore even as he scored a big hundred in the domestic first class tournament here today.
Test captain Misbah, who was also kept in the platinum category, was bought by Islamabad United franchise and appointed captain as well for the PSL to be held in Dubai and Sharjah from February 4.
In the other interesting picks on the first day of Players’ Draft at the national cricket academy, Pakistan T20 captain Shahid Afridi was sold to Peshawar Zalmi franchise while Karachi Kings bagged all-rounder Shoaib Malik.
Islamabad United brought Australian Shane Watson as their icon player. Quetta Gladiators chose discarded England batsman Kevin Pietersen while Lahore Qalandars were left with the choice of Chris Gayle as their icon player.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official said that the Players’ Draft would continue tomorrow and any of the five franchises could still pick Younis in their squads at his same bid price or lower.
Younis and Misbah had both privately voiced their unhappiness when they were not named among the five icon players for the players draft.
Pakistan’s former Test pacer and captain Wasim Akram, who has been appointed as Director Cricket of the Islamabad franchise, is said to have played a key role in the selection of Misbah, who is now 41.
In a late development, the Pakistan Super League secretariat also included veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq in the draft at the last moment while Pakistan’s young guns Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal were promoted to the platinum category.
Pakistan’s experienced batsman Mohammad Hafeez, who was demoted to the diamond category after being ignored during the platinum category players selection, was eventually picked by Peshawar.
Tainted left-arm pacer Mohammad Aamir, who was placed in the gold category, was picked up by Karachi franchise.
The franchise squads after first day of Players Draft:
Karachi Kings (Head coach: Mickey Arthur): Shoaib Malik, Shakib alHasan, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Ravi Bopara, Lendll Simmons, Muhammad Amir, Bilawal Bhatti, James Vince.
Peshawar Zalmi (Head coach: Mohammad Akram): Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Darren Sammy, Kamran Akmal, Muhammad Hafeez, Chris Jordan, Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Khan, Jim Allenby.
Islamabad United (Head coach: Dean Jones): Shane Watson, Andre Russell, Misbahul Haq, Samuel Badree, Muhammad Irfan, Brad Haddin, Sharjeel Khan, Muhammad Sami, Khalid Latif.
Lahore Qalandars (Head coach: Paddy Upton): Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Umar Akmal, Muhammad Rizwan, Yasir Shah, Sohaib Maqsood, Mustafizur Rahman, Kevon Cooper, Cameron Delport.
Quetta Gladiators (Head coach: Moin Khan): Kevin Pietersen, Sarfraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Jason Holder, Luke Wright, Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Elton Chigumbura.
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