LAHORE: Multan Sultans — the sixth franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) — Tuesday picked former Pakistan T20 skipper Shoaib Malik and West Indian master blaster Kieron Pollard in their Platinum category. “The inclusion of Shoaib to our unit gives us a great edge, as he brings along with him rich T20 cricket experience, and since he has been featuring in almost every top T20 league around the globe, he will have a crucial role to play,” said Multan Sultans president Asher Schon. The team announced their pick of nine players from distinct categories as part of the pre-draft selection.
The retention and trading window for PSL 2018 opened to pave the way for the five teams from the previous two seasons to retain two players each from the Platinum, Diamond and Gold category and three from the Silver category – allowing them to retain up to nine players in the team. The emerging category player for all teams will be announced later. This enabled the sixth and the newest side in the competition, Multan Sultans to pick a maximum of nine players from each of the four categories in the pre-draft, comprising players not retained by the other franchises.
The veteran Sri Lankan batting master class, Kumar Sangakkara was picked up in the Diamond category as a player and mentor alongside T20 specialist Sohail Tanvir.
Sharing his views on the addition of Sangakkara to the franchise, Multan Sultans Director Cricket Wasim Akram said: “Kumar is a master class, and over the time he has outshined as one of the most consistent T20 players, be it his blistering strokes or splendid glove work behind the stumps, he has contributed amazingly to the T20 format across the globe. His presence in the dug-out in itself will be a huge morale booster, and will provide an excellent learning experience for the youngsters who will have the privilege of sharing the dressing room with him.” The Gold category features the pace duo of Mohammad Irfan alongside lethal pacer Junaid Khan who is well known for his accuracy in the shorter format of the game. Whereas the Silver category features the mystery leggie from FATA, Irfan Khan, all-rounder Kashif Bhatti and middle-order batsman Sohaib Maqsood.
Published in Daily Times, October 11th 2017.