Babar Azam joins Peshawar Zalmi ahead of PSL 2023

image-lacod4mwBabar Azam in action [Source: AP]

In a significant turn of events, Peshawar Zalmi have traded veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and promising batter Haider Ali for Pakistan captain Babar Azam with Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL 2023. The news was surfaced by the Zalmi's official Twitter handle on Friday. 

Currently, Babar Azam is the only player in the Platinum category for the Zalmi. Similarly, Haider is Kings' only player in the Platinum category, while Malik joins Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir in the Diamond category.

The franchises can have a maximum of 18 players in their roster - three each in Platinum, Gold and Diamond categories, five in Silver, two in emerging, and a maxiumum of two as supplementary picks.

The Zalmi fans expressed their delight at having the country's best batter in their side. Notably, Babar is the top-scorer in the tournament's history, amassing 2413 runs at a fabulous average of 42.33 and a decent strike rate of 121.13. Hailed as a great in making, Babar has previously represented Karachi Kings in the lucrative league.

On the other hand, the defending champions Lahore Qalandars have retained Shaheen Afridi and Rashid Khan in the Platinum category. So far, they have retained 7 players and will announce their 8th retention very soon.


Here's the full list of retained players

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (Platinum). Asif Ali (Brand Ambassador) and Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Diamond). Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali (Gold). Colin Munro and Paul Stirling (Silver).

Karachi Kings: Haider Ali (Platinum). Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Shoaib Malik (Diamond). Aamir Yamin, Mir Hamza and Sharjeel Khan (Silver). Qasim Akram (Emerging)

Lahore Qalandars: Rashid Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum). David Wiese (Diamond). Abdullah Shafique (Gold). Harry Brook and Kamran Ghulam (Silver). Zaman Khan (Emerging). Eighth retention to be announced in due course.

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (Platinum). Khushdil Shah, Rilee Rossouw and Shan Masood (Diamond). Shahnawaz Dahani (Brand Ambassador) and Tim David (Gold). Abbas Afridi and Ihsanullah (Emerging).

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (Platinum). Sherfane Rutherford and Wahab Riaz (Diamond). Mohammad Haris (Gold). Aamir Jamal (Brand Ambassador), Salman Irshad and Tom-Kohler Cadmore (Silver).

Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Nawaz (Platinum). Iftikhar Ahmed and Jason Roy (Diamond). Mohammad Hasnain and Sarfaraz Ahmed (Gold). Naveen ul Haq, Umar Akmal (Mentor) and Will Smeed (Silver).

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