Brendon McCullum & Eoin Morgan consent to take part in HBL PSL Player Draft
1st July 2016 - Lahore: Work on the second season of HBL Pakistan Super League has started gathering pace as franchise owners met the PSL management at the National Cricket Academy today under Chairman PSL, Najam Sethi.
It was decided that the teams may retain up to 16 players from their existing squads. All players who were brought on board by a team, regardless of whether they played, are eligible for retention. The retention window will also provide teams with a chance to renegotiate with existing players and the window closes on 14th September 2016. The transfer window is concurrently open with teams in a position to leverage their
draft picks and / or existing squads to find an ideal balance.
The Player Draft for HBL PSL 2 is set to take place in the month of October with UAE emerging as a likely venue since leading players will be engaged in Pakistan’s home series in the UAE. The draft order will follow the principle of placing the bottom-placed team from the previous year at an advantage. Consequently, Lahore Qalandars will have the first pick in every round. Karachi Kings will have the second pick, Peshawar Zalmi third, Quetta Gladiators fourth, and Islamabad United will make the final pick in every round.
The five franchises unanimously agreed to an increase in the salary cap to USD 1.2 million for HBL PSL 2. It was also decided that all players in the emerging players category will have to be Under-23 as of 1st January 2017 with at least one player from the home region of the franchise.
“We are buoyed by the success of HBL PSL 1 and things are now getting into an exciting phase for season 2. I can promise that HBL PSL 2 will be bigger and better, and we will leave no stone unturned in bringing unparalleled cricketainment to the fans. We will also try our best to stage the final of HBL PSL 2 in Pakistan,” said Chairman PSL, Najam Sethi.
HBL PSL 2 attracts more big names!
HBL PSL 2 promises to be bigger and better and the player roster is beginning to show why. Legendary former New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum, and current England T20 and ODI captain, Eoin Morgan, have consented to take part in the HBL PSL Player Draft.
McCullum, who led the New Zealand side through a golden period culminating in a World Cup final appearance in 2015, retired from international cricket last year.
Having participated in T20 leagues across the globe, McCullum’s addition to HBL PSL marks the arrival of another modern-day T20 icon.
Eoin Morgan, who led the English side to the final of the ICC World T20 2016, is also captain of a resurgent England One Day team.
Sharing his thoughts on the new joinings, Chairman PSL Najam Sethi said: “Brendon McCullum and Eoin Morgan are proven international stars who not only bring a wealth of international cricket experience but also bring invaluable leadership experience to the HBL PSL player roster. While we have announced these two names, there are at least a dozen additional top-level signings that will be revealed in the coming days. It will be interesting to see how teams manage their retentions and transfers given such quality additions to the Player Draft!”
HBL PSL 2 is set to return to action in February 2017.
