Peshawar Zalmi Chooses Captaincy Over Talent: Babar Azam Stays, Saim Ayub Released

ISLAMABAD: Peshawar Zalmi has decided to retain Babar Azam as their captain ahead of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), while opener Saim Ayub has been released due to retention rules.

Sources indicate that both Babar and Saim fall into Zalmi’s Platinum category, but PSL regulations permit each franchise to retain only one player from a single category. Therefore, Zalmi have opted to keep Babar, prioritizing leadership and experience, leaving Saim Ayub available for the auction pool of players.

All franchises are expected to finalize their retained players list on Tuesday, after which the auction process for PSL 11 will commence.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become a significant sports brand in the country, with its international media rights value increasing by 149 percent. PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer stated that the league is steadily strengthening its position among the world’s leading T20 competitions.

“An increase of 149 per cent in international media rights values reflects growing global confidence in the PSL,” said Naseer, noting that the tournament continues to receive strong recognition internationally. He added that this surge underscores the league’s expanding reach and popularity as it builds its reputation as one of the top franchise leagues in world cricket.