PSL Player Draft to take place in Gwadar on January 11

The port city Gwadar in Balochistan will host the Player Draft of 10th edition of HBL Pakistan Super League

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a statement on Friday stating that the ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, January 11, 2025.

The decision to host the draft in Gwadar aims to popularize cricket in the region and inspire local youth to pursue the sport professionally.

The PCB has a history of promoting cricket in Balochistan. Ahead of the eighth PSL season in 2023, an exhibition match between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi was held on February 5, coinciding with the national observance of "Kashmir Day."

Similarly, after winning their first PSL title in 2019, Quetta Gladiators celebrated by taking the trophy to Quetta on March 23, Pakistan Day, to engage with their fans.

Highlighting Gwadar's significance, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said, “Gwadar, with its stunning coastline and strategic importance, represents the heart of Pakistan’s economic future. By hosting the HBL PSL Player Draft here, we aim to highlight its cultural and economic significance while celebrating the unity cricket brings to our nation.

“I look forward to welcoming all the franchises and the relevant stakeholders to the beautiful city of Gwadar on 11 January as we take an exciting step towards marking the start of the 10th edition of Pakistan’s biggest sporting extravaganza.”

Earlier this week, the PCB announced the category renewal of 87 local players for the upcoming PSL season.

Among these, Hasan Ali (Karachi Kings), Mohammad Amir (Quetta Gladiators), Saim Ayub (Peshawar Zalmi), and Usama Mir (Multan Sultans) have been promoted to the Platinum category from Diamond.

The statement from the PCB further mentioned that the details regarding player retention and relegation will be shared by the end of December.