LAHORE: Former Australian hard-hitting opener David Warner has been named in the Platinum category for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 draft, marking his debut in the league.
According to sources, along with Warner, fellow Australians Usman Khawaja, Matthew Short, Sean Abbott and Alex Carey have also entered the draft, with Carey listed in the Diamond category.
A total of 40 international players have been included in the Platinum category, featuring prominent names like Mark Chapman, Mustafizur Rahman, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Chris Lynn and Daryl Mitchell.
Speedsters Adam Milne and Tim Southee, along with batters Kusal Mendis and David Willey, also join the Platinum roster.
English stars Zak Crawley, Jason Roy and Alex Hales add firepower to the list, while Michael Bracewell strengthens New Zealand's representation.
In addition to the Platinum list, the draft includes 87 foreign players in the Diamond category and a massive 165 players in the Gold category, showcasing the global appeal of the PSL.
Six franchises are gearing up to build their squads from this rich talent pool, with players not selected in the Platinum category remaining eligible for the Diamond and Gold rounds.
For the first time in PSL history, the draft will be held in the picturesque coastal city of Gwadar, Balochistan, on January 11.
Ahead of the draft, teams finalised their player retentions, with each franchise allowed to retain up to eight players.
Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi retained seven players each, while the other teams utilised their full retention quota.
According to the draft pick order, Lahore Qalandars, the two-time PSL champions, will make the first pick in the opening round of the platinum category, followed by their arch-rivals, Karachi Kings.
The third pick will go to the 2019 PSL champions Quetta Gladiators, with Peshawar Zalmi following in the fourth spot.
Last season's runners-up, Multan Sultans, will make the fifth pick, while the reigning champions, Islamabad United, will select sixth.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.- David Warner
- Tim Southee
