HBL PSL Season 11: Franchises Announce Retention Roster Amidst Excitement

Six franchises, including defending champions Lahore Qalandars, have unveiled their retained players for the HBL PSL season 11. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed this on Wednesday. All teams except Islamabad United have kept four players each. United has held onto three players.

The two new franchises, Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad, will announce their retentions by February 7.

Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi of Lahore Qalandars is retained in the Platinum category, while Abdullah Shafique joins him there. In the Diamond category, Sikandar Raza has also been retained by the defending champions. The Gold category sees a new addition with Zimba Raza staying on with the franchise.

In the Silver category, Mohammad Naeem from the HBL PSL X tournament is retained. Lahore Qalandars have also kept emerging player Shamyl Hussain in that category.

The reigning champions Quetta Gladiators have held onto mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim in Platinum and Diamond categories, respectively. Usman Tariq has been retained in the Gold category, and HBL PSL X player Hasan Nawaz will play for them in the Platinum category.

Babar Azam of 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi will continue to star with his team, as he is retained in the Platinum category. His teammates Sufyan Moqim (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold), and Ali Raza (Emerging) have been retained by them.

Shadab Khan’s nine-year association with Islamabad United reaches a decade mark; he has been retained in the Platinum category for his team. Fast bowler Salman Irshad will play Gold, while Andries Gous of USA will retain his Silver category spot.

Hasan Ali, who holds the record for leading wickets in HBL PSL history, remains with Karachi Kings in the Platinum category. Mohammad Abbas Afridi and Khushdil Shah will be retained by the 2020 champions in Diamond and Gold categories respectively, while Saad Baig is set to play in Emerging category.

Full Retentions:

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold) and Mohammad Naeem (Silver)

Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hasan Nawaz (Gold) and Shamyl Hussain (Emerging)

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (Platinum), Salman Irshad (Gold) and Andries Gous (Silver)

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (Platinum), Sufyan Moqim (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold) and Ali Raza (Emerging)

Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali (Platinum), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold) and Saad Baig (Emerging)

Multan Sultans have not retained any players from their previous squad.