You've heard Ali Tarino re Lucate.
You've heard Rihanna huck on sporting myths, You've heard
Amir and Samantha Mudhin on Butterfast.
Not yet, but you probably will. And now welcome to Backward
Points version of the PSL Retention Preview Review.
Whatever you want to call it, With me, my name is Nanasaya.
Then with me, as always, is my brother, Co host, coach,
instructor and apparently PSL draft aficionado Bashar Sayid.
Hello and welcome to the PSL 10 Draft Preview I.
Already did the intro. I can even say PSLX if you want
to be Roman. I don't I really don't.
I want to know. So I, I think we should give the
listeners a little bit of a context because the renders were
announced quite a while ago, honestly almost a week ago.
And we didn't do a podcast on it.
Let's let's just be clear and it's mainly because I thought
that the drafts are a little bit bigger of a story.
Boy, was I proven wrong the past seven days on Pakistani cricket
Twitter, especially PSL Twitter. I mean, it's just like the the
whole discourse has changed on how the PSL functions with the
PCBS roles are in it. A bombshell vent discussion
podcast from Ali K thirteen, 2 1/2 hours.
I'll listen to every single minute of it.
Honestly, if you're listening, you should have your own
podcast. It was very entertaining.
He spoke from the heart. And this sounded like a man who
was frustrated from the system, from from just the expectations
of what he was supposed to do as an owner of a, you know, PSL
winning franchise. And he was just left in the dark
many a times and just completely not taking into account making
tough and big decisions when it came to the PSL.
And honestly, we've been from the outside screaming about
similar situations, about how the mismanagement of the PCB has
just been to an all time high, this cannot keep going, yadda,
yadda, yadda. And this was a very interesting
take from someone who was in the system, who was within the
boundaries of how the PCB works, how the PSL works.
So that's why I think you kind of convinced me that this is the
right time to do this podcast. First and foremost, before
anything, we need to firstly understand how the PSL draft
works. Now Full disclosure, I don't
even get how the NBA draft works.
I don't get how any of these draft systems works.
I feel like they're too the lift on and me understanding them is
too high. So This is why I give the entire
responsibility to Bashar who is ironically or ironically running
a United hoodie. Would you want to explain
yourself? Am I?
I was going to rock my United Hat as well, but I was like,
that's too much merch in one. Episode, I mean, the PSL is sort
of taking win and we've already started getting all Islamabad
United agenda comments. And I'm like, that was that's
really early. And then I realized, oh, the
draft and the retentions and all that is happening.
So the so the winds have changed, which are we're now
finally back to the Islamabad United agenda that is on your
left. That partnership has put a stamp
on us and I don't think we'll ever be able to come out of
that. Even though in the last T20
World Cup you were extremely critical of Shahdab Azam,
sometimes Naseem Shah's bowling recently.
But Despite that, we get a lot of these comments saying that we
are Islamabad United Agenda, payroll, whatever it is.
Anyways, this podcast I want to talk about how the draft works.
Please teach me. Local player category, new
renewals, retentions. And then lastly, we'll talk
about just looking forward to the draft, which is next week.
Some of the big players that have signed up, what can we
expect? So just starting off with
retentions, the one thing that we are retaining consistently is
the partnership with Yashi Sports.
Yes. Canada's home of cricket guys.
They've given us a beautiful, beautiful code BP 10 for 10% off
your purchase at yashisports.com.
Yashi Sports is where you go where expert advice meets top
quality equipment. The Venn diagram of that is
yashisports.com. Bats right here, Another bat
behind you. What did he say?
I mean, this is the partnership that everyone really wants and
they want partnership that everyone deserves.
Honestly, the BP 10 partnership, if we have one agenda, it's not
that. It's not my agenda, it's not the
boxing agenda, the Yashi sports agenda, isn't it?
Absolutely. And we're here to deliver it on
all fronts. Guys, use the BP 10 code.
This is the time, the moment it's all yours.
PS LS coming around, Chapman Trophy's coming around.
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help the podcast support you in your cricketing journey.
And help the supporters of the podcast, which is Joshi Sports,
starting off with PSL Local player category renewals.
Now, when this first announced, my understanding was that these
are the retentions. And so I made a mistake by
posting that on our backward point Instagram story saying
that Oh my God, player retentions are here.
And then I was corrected by fellow backward pointer saying
that this is actually just the category renewals of these
players. What does that mean?
Now I was just curious like what the hell does that even mean?
Like, like I said, you know, what are category renewals?
How do these happen? Who votes for them?
And then luckily, thankfully, there was a podcast recently on
sporting Myths, which is a podcast hosted by Rohan Al Huck.
I just, he's the general manager of Islamabad United and he went
through details of exactly how these, the PSL draft works, how
category renewals work. And I've taken some notes from
him, some notes from Buddy Daveen, and I will try my best
to condense that information and try to relay it in this section
of the podcast. I think a lot of people if
Bashar is wrong, please feel free to like just completely
grill him in the podcast comments.
We now read comments on Spotify and Apple Music as well.
So if you're a listener, pull over and give him a mouthful.
I I encourage your constructive, positive criticism.
I do not seem to be an expert. I'm just trying my best to so
how about? We do this.
I'll be the relay like the the layman and you be the expert.
Explain to me how the PSL local category renewals work.
So before the draft happens, what's important is that the
local players categories get renewed, so then you can know
how many players you're retaining in which category
because there's limitations. So there's six teams in the PSL
and how these renewals work is that five of the teams vote for
the, the six teams players and they'll vote on let's say Naseem
Shah, they'll be like, OK, five teams are going to be saying
that Naseem Shah is a platinum player.
You know how how do they determine that?
It's based off of Naseem Shah's past performances in the PSL,
recent performances considering Aza Pakistan national player.
And then the other thing could be his perceived brand value.
So based on that, Naseem Shah was in Platinum, Shadab Khan was
in Platinum. Despite Shadab Khan's recent
international performances not being to a high standard, Shadab
was the player of the tournament, the last PSL.
Based off of that and then based off of Shadab's brand value,
they determined the five teams aside from Islamabad denied and
voted that Shazab Naseem are Platinum players.
Now, in your opinion, is that a fair model of selection?
I think it's tough, you know, thinking of this is happening in
the Pakistan Super League. I don't know exactly what the
relationship between these six teams are, but you would imagine
that sometimes it could be possible to scheme against one
team and just vote for their players to be in higher
category. But what I've heard is that
there is a good relationship amongst them and teams want
players to be in their their rightful categories.
I heard Ali Tahin being very pissed off with the fact that
Osama Amir was in platinum. But again, you got to look at
Assam Amir's recent performances in the PSL, the fact that he was
one of the highest wicket takers, his economy was good and
then right now he's also a globetrotter playing the Big
Bash and other leagues. So what?
What category is Assamir in? He's in platinum.
Platinum is the highest category, so let's let's just
break down the category. It goes platinum, diamond, gold,
silver, emerging, but platinum being the highest and the
highest paid and emerging being the lowest.
Right. So just the pay scale of these
categories, Platinum, like you said, it's the highest paid
category. And reports, sources say that
players get paid up to 170 kusd in the platinum category.
So Barbarossum could get paid 170 K, but because this is a
range of numbers, Osama could get paid like 120 K and that
that would still be platinum. What is the range for platinum?
I don't know the exact range, but I would assume it's like 120
into 170. Why wouldn't you increase the
cap on these on these salaries? I think the the PS LS on a
budget, the teams have a specific budget and there were
talks of direct signings where you can pay players up to 300
K400 K and that would mean that we might have seen like bigger
names in the PSL, but for now there are these salary caps.
But as I understand it, the direct signing also has
drawbacks, correct? Correct, because I was again the
only the Rain podcast because haven't listened to it.
Guys, it's 2 1/2 hours. Listen to that and they come
back here. But as I understand, he was
saying that if the pool of the direct signing players is
limited, six or seven or eight players, then there might just
not be direct signings available.
Because what if you want a wicket keeper batsman and
there's only one of them and he's taken away and then now you
don't, you don't really need anybody else because you just
needed that one particular type of player.
And then your hand might be forced to take like a fastball
there, which you already have. I want to know how the trade
system works in the PSL draft system.
So trades can work if you are trading a player in the same
category. So for example, if Salman ABBA
is in diamond and Muhammad Amar is in diamond, then quota and
Islamabad can be like you want to trade players or if you're
trading players in different categories, you can trade a
player plus a pick. So for example, I remember last
year's biggest trade was Naseem Shah going from quota to
Islamabad and what Islam was offered in terms of Naseem Shah
was two players, Wasim Junior and Abraham Ahmed and they
offered them a first round platinum pick for Naseem Shah.
And who was that? I don't know who they picked in
that category. But OK, I'll double check.
That they got that player. Interesting.
OK, so we're we're. And then also there was another
pick. Very straightforward trade.
Karachi Kings took Hassan Ali from Islamabad United and
Islamabad United took Imad Wasim from Karachi Kings because
gotcha needed a pacer. Islamabad needed a left arm
spinning all under. So let me just double check here
Quita. They probably got Jason Roy or
something. So, OK, yeah, I'm probably up.
They got a platinum pick as what's the what's the point is
the. Platinum pick for Quita in 2024
was Rally Russo. Well, that's very interesting
that that's the case. And Rally was also their
captain. Sorry, Platinum, Quita got
Sharfi and Rutherford I think. OK.
But the point is the. Guts what the Wikipedia is
telling me. Don't yell at me if I'm wrong,
just fix it in the comments below.
The gut of Platinum Pick is the gut.
Of platinum. OK, interesting.
I just wanted to know because it's really interesting to see
what picks teams like one of the really crazy draft picks from
2000 and no, from 1998, I believe was when Kobe was in the
draft first time rookie and Philly had the chance to get
Kobe and they passed and Lakers got Kobe.
That's like stuff like that is really interesting to me.
Like the whole trajectory of Kobe Bryant being in the
Phillies would have just been completely different.
You know, maybe he wouldn't have a dynasty with track.
Like that's the stuff that I'm thinking about and I'm thinking
about platinum picks and and giving a pick away and who
actually was that pick. I think that's just a
fascinating aspect of the whole draft system to me.
So category renewals typically if there is unanimous vote on
the on the players category and teams agree that's the category
decided. But if there's a disagreement or
a split voting on the players category, then it goes to the
selection committee which is comprised of a such a feek
alimdar and then they decide the final category of the players,
for example. Couple more people in there I
think. Yeah, so Saman Al Yaga was in
diamond and I think there was a three 2 split between people
saying he should be in gold and and diamond.
And then his name was given to the selection committee which
eventually decided that he should be in diamond.
Now there's one more thing you can do with respect to
categories and and roles. There's a mentor rule.
The mentor rule basically says that if a player is retired and
he has over 100 international appearances, you can take them
down the category but still pay them a higher category fees.
For example, Gweta Gladiators has Muhammad AMR as their
ambassador. Plus he is in the diamond
category, which means that they're paying him the platinum
salary, but they're able to retain him in the diamond.
Category. So they basically free up a
space for platinum and they get somebody else.
In Correct and Islamabad United does the same thing with Imad
Lasim, he's in diamond, he's also the mentor, so he gets the
platinum salary, which frees him up a space to have a platinum
pick. Interesting.
And the other cool rule is of the ambassador.
So if the ambassador does the same exact thing where you can
sort of sort of like degrade a player to a lower category, but
pay them a higher category salary.
So for example, Islamabad generated has Salman Aliaga and
gold, but because he's the brand ambassador, they're paying him
the diamond salary. So that that again frees up a
space in the higher category to get a bigger player or it's a
bigger name. There's another rule in there,
the exception Players can sometimes be picked in lower
categories and then be given extra money from commercial.
That's correct. So for example, like Laura
Kunders has David Wiese and they picked him in silver.
I don't know how they've managed to to talk him through that, but
they're probably paying him the highest salary possible in
silver, which is like 25 K USD. And plus they're giving him some
budget from commercial rights and probably similar things with
Colin Monroe. Colin Monroe is in silver in
Istanbul United, and they're probably giving him some more
protective on their incentives that bump up his pay.
All right, interesting. So now I'm up to pace.
I'm still a little bit foggy. I don't know if this if this
draft system is like squeaky clean.
I think there's it's a bit flawed.
There are definitely ways that I can see a system like a system
like this can easily be manipulated by teams or
environments like Pakistan. I can see how that can happen.
So I don't know if this is a foolproof system.
Definitely would need some amendments.
But again, listening to Ali Tari and I'm like, I can't even
believe this. You know, we're in the 10th year
of this thing. This thing has been shot in the
foot so many times that we're we're just glad that it's it's
still running. So retenders were each team.
Let's let's talk about it. Who got retained from each team
and then where? So a team can retain a maximum
of eight players in the last season.
And these are all local players. Local players, some are foreign
as well. So Colin Monroe is a foreign
player from Islamabad, David Wiese is a foreign player from
Lahore, Akil Hussain is a foreign player from Gweta.
So you can do mix and match from foreign players and and local
players. Rashid Khan used to be a a
permanent retainee of Lahore in the past.
Nowhere to be seen. Because of the IPL.
So they actually retained him I believe last year in silver
category, but they had to release him because obviously
he's preferred the IPL over the PSL this year.
Yeah, I'm not. I mean, I get that I should.
So teams can pick a Teams have to pick a minimum of one player
in the platinum category, local player and a maximum of two
local players in the platinum category.
So for example, Peshawar Zalmi has Barbara Azam and Saima Yub
in the platinum category. Karachi and Kuerta have the
platinum category blank so. What does that mean?
That means that at minimum, they need one local player from
Pakistan in the platinum category and then they can have
an opportunity to have two foreign players in the platinum.
Category. OK, interesting.
So they're keeping their options open for the draft.
Correct, correct. Yeah.
And how this draft and these picks are are designed is that
because you can only retain 8 players in the past year, it's
kind of like in a level playing field where even if you've won
last year, it's hard to have the same players and and win again
go back-to-back. Which is why I think it's quite
incredible how the Horkunders have won back-to-back.
PSL 7:00 and 8:00. The teams that finished last get
initial picks in the next year's draft.
So for example, the Horkunders was bottom of the table last
year and this year they had the 1st pick.
So it gives a a balancing opportunity for teams if you
perform poorly in the past season to come back, get better
picks and try to win. Again, this is very similar to
the NBA. The NBA has a percentage system.
If you're in the bottom table from your Easter W conferences,
you just have a better chance of being, you know, the 1st 5 picks
in a in a lottery. So very interesting.
Let's go team my team and talk about their retentions, the
players they've released and who they might be looking to pick
up. So starting off with Istanbul
United, for some reason I think Platinum picks Shadab Khan,
Naseem Shah, Diamond picks IMA Al Wasim who is also the mentor
and then Azam Khan is also in diamond, Heather Elise, Aman
Aliyara in gold and then Colin Monroe, Ruman Reis and server.
The arrow beside Ruman Reis states that he's been relegated
a category. That basically happens when a
team requests for a relegation for a player to be brought down
the category. And if the team and the player
are both in agreement, that can happen and then they're able to
retain them. Is there a cap on how many gold,
silver and emerging players you can have?
There are. I don't know the exact number,
but there is a cap. And so there's a cap on all the
categories basically correct? So you can have maximum of
three. Players in the.
How many in the diamond? I think 4, OK, I think four,
yeah. I don't know exactly what the
number is for each category in the number of players, but I
believe you need to have at least two emerging players and
then one of them has to play in the in the 11.
Yeah, but actually 3 emerging players because last year Shami,
Hussain, Obasha and Hunanshah were all three in the emerging
category. And I think Hunanshah was a
prominent figure in Islam, was playing 11.
Interesting. All right, I'm, I'm on board.
So Islamabad United retained all these players.
Thoughts. Feelings.
First, there were rumors on Nassim Shah leaving Islamabad.
United, you started a rumor, you said.
You told me off the record you were like, yo, I just was on
Islamabad United's Instagram page and they unfollowed Naseem.
So there's no confirmation whether they followed him to
begin with. There we go.
They don't follow us. They don't follow us.
And we worked with them for a whole season, so I don't know
what. To tell you so, the news is on
Twitter that Oh my God, Naseem Shah has been unfollowed by
Islamabad United and I don't think he follows them as well.
So there's beef going on. He might get traded to some
other team. Peshawarzalam means happening
but turns out all fluff, all talks of trades.
This whole season has been just conversation of nothing actual
tangible coming out of them. Shalab and Nassim and platinum.
I think it's a no brainer. Shalab played at the tournament
last year. Impact player in the PSL.
Say what you want about him and the greens, but when he's in the
Reds? Different player, captain,
strategic. Nassim Shah.
Great baller, improving his batting brand value.
Commercial companies love Nassim Shah.
Had to be. On their posters and we love him
on the podcast. Season 2.
I mean, it's not announced. Wait, let me just it's not
announced. Season 2 is not announced.
We're still in talks, but if it happens, it'll be great.
The Marvel team as a mentor, I think in the diamond category,
he was clutch for them last season.
Played of the match and the Eliminator plus the finals.
I've thought about that. It doesn't sit right with me.
What are your thoughts? Diamond's a bit too high for a
Marvel team and. Again, you have to look at his
performances in the last PS. How?
About I look at his age, isn't he like in his mid 30s?
Well, what? What does he have to do if he's
hitting the ball right? If he's blowing the balls in the
right area, he is just a number. I guess I don't know, it just
seems pretty high to me still how old is because he's because
he's Imad Wasim and then sorry, he's Imad Wasim in the diamond
category and he's also getting compensated as a mentor mentor,
right? So essentially he's getting
virtual platinum category. Yeah, yeah, it's high.
Well, he was their clutch player last season.
He won the matches. It's high.
The game against was done 7 off 2 balls, eight to six and and a
four. He did win the match.
The final match takes 5 wickets. I hear you, but I think the 2000
and 2014 twenty World Cup hangover is still kind of there.
It feels high again, and you know it feels.
According to those performances, Shadab should then also not be
in Platinum. Shadab Iftahar.
Iftahar should also not be. With with Shadab and Islamabad
they go way back season 2 win onwards.
Oh, so now it goes way. Back no, no.
But also Shadab is about 30. He's like.
That was 2526. OK then even better like the the
comparison is insane. Like Shalalapan is a young
emerging player who will be with Slomaned for years to come.
Investing in him makes sense. Giving basically platinum money
to remad Wasim seems weird to me.
That's my take. I just think you're scarred from
that one match against India. It's not the one match though.
His PSL. Performances have been top notch
and like I said, he was clutched for them last season.
Like so clutched that he had. He made a comeback, Yeah, Back
from retirement to the Pakistan. Team, I hear you, I hear you.
I I get, I get the four Madamaseman diamond.
I just think he's still too high with the mentor fee and
everything. That's just my opinion.
Ozzam and Diamond seems fair to me.
Hedrag and Gold is fine. Saman, Yaga and Gold a bit low
in my opinion. He's.
Also been ambassador, so he's Diamond.
And then that's what I was just going to say to you.
Colin Monroe and Silver and Roman Reese got relegated down
to silver as well. So everything else seems fair to
me. I think the biggest news was
that Islamabad had to release Fahim Ashraf who was with
Islamabad since season 3 won two PSLS with them.
Critical member of their squad. I don't think Spain Musharraf
has performed that well with the bad for Pakistan as well as he
had for Islamabad United and like 22 average 140 plus strike
rate. He's won them games out of
nowhere. Great baller for them, good
economy and gun fielder. So probably their toughest
release this. Season yeah, we saw a lot of the
Islamabad United camp people just posting in favor of him and
and how sad it is but it's just part of the game so expects.
Yeah, also, Alex Hale's gone. I think Islamabad is going to be
eyeing a foreign player, the platinum category or diamond
category as an opener. Islamabad has a history of
foreign players in their top order, Luke Ronke, Brad Hat and
Shane Watson. Cole Monroe.
Cole Monroe, Peter Sterling, right, All these players.
So I think they prefer foreign players and their as openers.
Do you want to take any names you think that might be filling
in that spot? If I'm being honest, I I would
love to see someone like Finn Allen in Islamabad.
Like I just feel like he fits in to the Islamabad United ruthless
power play approach. But what about a David Warner
with the right left combination with Monroe?
So the problem is that Islamabad has the 6th pick and I think
David Warner might be picked before that.
So they might not get out my my bet for who McDonald will pick
is Swan Quajo. I I thought, I think that too.
Because he kept hinting a left-handed player.
Swan Quaja strikes at 150 plus in the PSL.
He's one of the top players in the world and Australia's test
team. Lots of runs in the in the Big
Bash and great players. Spin.
The PTSL is being pushed back to the April May window so pitches
might be more dry and we might see more spin on offer.
Which is why Swan Quaja might be a keeper.
I think we talked to him during the GT20 of this past year and
he told us on and off the record that he's eyeing interest in the
PSL. He would love to go back.
Islam and I had a great time with him.
I think it's the PSL in general is something that the fits is
what vibe, so I'm interested in that.
Yeah, and then he was also just wondering if the window gets
moved on, he can come and play. So glad to see him find out
what's. Happening.
Let's go to my favorite team of all time, Karachi Kings Lavage
Wings or is Jiang or something like that horrible, horrible
anthem. This franchise has nothing going
on for it. I, I just, it just pains me.
I'm so glad I found myself united in a dark and hopeless
place. And Karachi Kings just remains
to be that dark and hopeless place.
Give me Karachi King straight bro.
What's going on here? I think Karachi are proving
though like they had a few. Heather is is your guy?
Apparently, yeah. No, he's not my guy, but like
things have have been. Improving.
I mean, you've talked fondly. Their whole brand image has
improved once they've like let go a few players.
I think it's a new core. It doesn't matter about the
brand images, I think it's the owners who are the problem.
I I don't know what to say about that.
To say yes or no if you think it's if I'm right or wrong.
I don't think the owners have much to do.
I just don't like their kit. I don't like their songs.
I don't like. And who's improving all this?
But it's it's not just the owner.
I mean, come on, somebody's funding this, this gold plated
numbered thing that's going on, somebody's funding this and it's
the owners. They're the Karachi kings.
They're kings. Doesn't matter, hence the gold
numbers are the best since the IPL.
This gold kit framing has looked really cringe and I I know I
have a lot of support on this from the fans out there.
Guys if you agree with me if the gold silver, the shiny kidding
looks cringe to you as well, please voice your opinions
because I think it looks horrible especially on TV at
night when the lights are on it just looks like.
This. Cheap aluminium, I don't know,
it's just, it's not the vibe. And it's, I'm sad to say this
because I, I, I used to support Karachi when I was an avid PSL
follower back in the early years.
And I, I let let go of it. But yeah, this is, it's, it's
painful. They don't have a starter
player. They don't have a brand player.
They're not able to lift anybody from the ground up.
They don't, they don't have a guy who can they, who they can
build their team around. This is, I think, a really good
segue into the whole was Peshawar going to release Saima
Yubin to Karachi and then Karachi was going to draft him
and build his team, right? Like there was this whole rumour
is going on. Would you like to clarify what
that was? So the.
Story is allegedly. I gotta say allegedly.
I don't want to get sued but apparently Simon U was offered a
lot more money than the platinum category to move from Salmi to
Kaachi Kings. I think Salmi is paying him the
170 KUSD which is probably the Max they can pay, but Kaachi
King was offering him 220 KUSD for the platinum category plus
captaincy. Karachi Kings apparently.
Allegedly Saima Yu was interested in leaving Zalmi to
go to Karachi Kings, his hometown city.
But Michelle Wilmi was like no, we invested in you since you
were in the diamond category last to last year and finally
you're in your prime. Now is the time for us to reap
the rewards. Sime wanted to go back into the
draft, but suddenly he's like, if you go back in the draft, we
will use the right to match card and pick you back and suddenly.
So don't make the mistake of going in the draft.
And apparently a very similar story with Mohammad Harris, who
I think wanted to leave Jaws with me as well.
This is again very NBA esque team, a person.
This morning's team was hardened.
Remember that whole Phillies run, was it Phillies or Houston
run where he was just not playing, was just air balling,
looking fat and then he just wanted to release and he got
released. What do you make of it?
I think the rumors hold some sort of ground.
I I can. See that what?
What do you make of Zalmi, Simon and the leaves of me to go to
Raji? I think he just wants to be the
star player and wants a franchise to be built around
him. Like like he's only built it
around Barber. And I think that's a fair ask if
you're a young and upcoming player.
And if you can have a career like Shahdab did Islamabad with
your home city of Karachi and and basically lift that dead
franchise from the freaking Ashes, then Siam Ayub is the guy
to do it. And honestly, if Siam had moved
to Karachi, I think our Karachi agenda would have been complete.
That would have been like the pinnacle of it.
The crown on the top, cherry on the top.
Done Karachi and that has arrived.
Doesn't get better than. This I may have reconsidered my
support. To Karachi.
I would have split my support if that was the case for sure.
But I think also from like Shower's point of view, like
they've invested into Siam since the past two seasons.
He was in the diamond category and before that he was in the
emerging category for Quita where that played him.
You opened with Chris Gayle, flopped that whole season.
And then, you know, in Pakistan, typically your career would be
finished. But Simon went back, did some
work, was the second highest run scorer, I believe in the
National T20 Cup of 2022. And then Zemi picked him up in
2023 in the diamond category. So now is the time for Zemi to
reap the rewards that they've invested into Simon U.
So I'm a bit leaning towards Zemi.
At the same time, I I do feel like players should have some
sort of autonomy, autonomy on where they want to play.
Like for example, I think one of the reasons why Nassim left
Kuetas was because he just wanted a wanted a fresh start
with a different team and he was also on board of leaving.
Puerto Yeah, I got it. I I totally agree with that.
So what did Karachi rings do? They their diamond and emerging
is completely empty. They have they are Hassan Ali
and James Vincent Diamond. Sorry I meant the platinum and
the emerging is completely empty.
They have in Diamond they have Hassan Ali and James Vince which
is against again really high for Hassan Ali.
Hassan Ali is one of the highest wicket takers in the PSLI.
Don't know what you're saying. Of all time?
Of all time, how many wickets did he take in the previous?
Season actually, I think 14 wickets in eight or nine matches
at a economy of about around 8, which is phenomenal numbers.
Phenomenal number that for. The PSL which has a high
scoring. That are not again, they are not
translating to wins. When was the last time Karachi
Kings made it to? The They won four games last
season, which is. The.
The same wins that they got in the past two years combined.
All right, so it's it's bad. It's improving.
I mean it's the same if you're saying that they have the same
wins that. They've had no, no, so they had
four wins last year, which was they had four wins and the
previous two years combined combined.
So they won one game, so. They they used to get 30 out of
100. Now they get 50 out of 100.
Correct. So they have, it's a slight
improvement, right? Good luck Karachi.
That's all I'm going to say they got Shan Masood in there in
gold. They he got relegated and
Iffahan Nazi stays in gold. I think that's the one I.
Think Iffahan Nazi got bumped up but he I think he was an
emerging last year. And then Arafat, Minhas, Tim
Seifert and Zahid Mahmud Lexpinner, yes.
Oh interesting, I haven't heard that name in a while.
Man This is why I don't like Karachi is so boring I'm.
Sorry to say, Zahid Mahmud has described Lexpinner.
Yeah, That's tough, man. That's tough on you.
Let's go to Peshawar, man. I'm I'm sick with this Karachi
King stuff. They also released Ray, by the
way. Oh, that's new.
He's going. Back in the draft.
He's going, Oh my God, the day of the draft and he gets
unpicked. Do you think he'll get he's
going back as a as a platinum player, isn't he?
No. No, no, he was.
I believe he was a diamond. He's still very high for sure.
Very high for somebody who hasn't played for Pakistan in
five. Years.
Four years. Four years.
Dang, it's been a while. Yeah.
Good luck, Shay Malik. Talking about Peshawarzalmi is
talk about their retentions. They got Barbara Azam Saimayev
in the platinum category, Muhammad Harris and Diamond.
They got Sufyan Mukim, Aydafiaku, Mehrmudas and silver.
So all three spinners and they got 3 spinners to retain, which
is the most by any any team. Aydafiaku was the standard for
me in last year's PSL. Honestly.
Was he amazing really? Yo remember that game he won
against us? He took four or five wickets
like it was like again, he reminds me of one of those just
ad maths teachers or or Khadi Saabs who who play cricket
really well on the side. He reminds me of that guy who
says unbearable. Yeah.
For hung creation. Oh, I love this guy.
For now, if you're listening to the podcast, love you, man.
He was in Mohammed Harris's wedding.
I really doubt he was listening to the broadcast he.
He watches the clips, some clips every now and then.
I, I, I think he followed us for a bit.
Totally unbearable. Yeah, love that guy.
He was in Mohammed Harris's wedding for some reason.
Do you see that? No, there was a viral.
Clip of him Aris is like on his stage when he must stay in this
guy is just like Horace something like that I swear I
may have been I may have been dreaming but that seems like
something that actually happened in real life yeah so Arif Biaku
just a wonderful like a burst of personality in the last PSL
really enjoyed him has actually been making the rounds on on
Instagram and Twitter because of.
The Cons 10 wickets in the. No, not because of that.
Well, that too. But I before that when the BGT
was happening, Constas, he got him bold in the under 90 World
Cup, I believe, clean, bold and swing.
Constas had no idea what was going on.
That was the same day that was going viral when Constas kind of
scooped and Dill scooped and this scooped and that scooped
all over the ground. So, you know, a little bit of a
pop going on in the on the TL. Bashar will look good to me.
Barbara Azam, you think? Barbara Azam getting platinum
plus some little sugar on the side.
Of course, absolutely 100%. I I know that there's been
players in the past, high profile players that the PSL
got. So they played them the Max
capacity in platinum and plus they got them commercial deals
with other companies locally which gave them enough money to
come to the PSLI. See, I can't.
Name lames. I can't name players or teams,
but it has happened. So if you look at, like, just
the history of these international players who were
appeared in, you know, telecommunication network ads.
Correct high profile Australian. Players Sure Jane Watson looking
at you. So Barbara Azam here is a
7,00,00,000 bad deal with CA Choudhury Aslam or whatever.
Whatever. The thing you're calling it.
News broken by pro sports Saad Nasir They're saying that
Barbara Azam is signed for 7,00,00,000 with CA.
I feel like some kind of NDA got broken there before Saud like
Saud got the info. It is Pakistan.
I mean, that's like really confidential info, right?
Has to be super confidential. Yeah.
It's not like the NBA where like everybody's like, and I was, oh,
he's getting $50 million. It's like very under the table
and stuff. I'm actually happy.
I want the players to get paid real money.
I want them to be financially secure.
I want them to be playing cricket with just cricket in
mind. Because if you're thinking about
like how is my next month bill going to be paid, then you can't
perform at your. Best, I have a question for you.
Yes, how many zeros are there in one core?
Moving on, 7. Moving on.
Let's talk about Quetta real quick.
Quetta has released Safroz biggest news ever.
That's probably. The biggest news?
Yeah, he was the only player, and actually still is for now,
who has played for the same team, all PSLS.
Yeah, he's the only player who's done that.
But Mizbah, No. Mizbah played three seasons in
Islamabad and in the four season he played for Zalmi.
I don't know why he went to Zalmi.
I think Shahid Afridi also skipped around.
He was in karate. Afridi has played for a lot of
teams. Except for Lahore and Zeli.
Yeah, I said for Lahore and quota.
Wait, so he's played for quota as well?
Yeah. So his last season was in quota.
So the only team he hasn't played for is calendars.
Calendars right? There we go.
And Islamabad. And Islamabad.
Wow. Interesting.
Yeah. So they have Muhammad Ahmed.
He got relegated or diamond. No, he got he's he's the mentor.
These, these apparently he's blind.
I am blind. Definitely mine.
That looks like a bottom arrow, but OK, whatever.
Yeah. So Muhammad Ahmed is the mentor
and abroad Ahmed is in diamond with Rally Russo.
Rally Russo I believe was in platinum last year.
Yeah, he was a captain as well. Correct.
Is that the still the case for Cuerda?
I think they they were growing so cheeky as a captain, so I
would not be surprised if so Chaquila becomes their captain
this year. They haven't announced that yet,
have they? Not announced yet.
So tequila isn't gold? Wouldn't that be a little bit
too low for your Captain Gold? Plus Bran ambassador, so
basically diamond. Basically diamond, but still
pretty low. I think it's still pretty new in
the whole PSL scene so. I'm just looking at like I'm
looking across the platinum categories for all the teams and
Shaheen is the captain of Qalandars as Shah Dab is the
captain of Islamabad. Baba is the capital of Zalmi and
as well as the capital of Sultan and they're all in Platinums.
I think it just would be a little bit of a weird situation
to have your captain not even be your most expensive player.
Is that is that a right assessment or fair assessment?
For example, like Shawn Masoud is the captain of Karachi, but
he's in gold. He got relegated to gold.
He's in. He's the captain of Karachi.
He's the captain. Wow.
I think he's. Karachi, come on.
I mean, we're keeping him. Captain as in the Test side on a
very subject to like captaincy basis and Karachi goes out and
just gives him captaincy. Full on.
Tough one, man, Tough one. The guy was team junior and also
in gold and Akil Hussain was currently the number one bowler
in the world according to the ICS ranking.
T20 eyes. T20 eyes.
Is he one of those hiding behind the back?
Bowlers. That's Sunila Ryan.
He's more of a imad the team like he has 2 balls he balls one
is the left arm in swinger. In Swinger.
He has an inswinger, sort of like, you know how Ahmad balls
an inswinger? Yeah, Darts has a he has an
inswinger as well with a new ball.
And he also has a left arm off spin.
And he's the number one bowler in T20 guys, and yet in gold.
Correct retaining. Gold.
Interesting. And then Huaja Nafi, I've heard
a lot about this kid. Very hyped.
He's hyped like Simon, you level hype, right?
Very hyped. I've heard a lot about lots of
edits going on already from like the Champions Cup and all that.
Interesting to see what he does this this season.
And then who's that Umar spawn Tarek?
He's that guy who's the finger bowler line right now?
Sorry, my guys. He's the finger spinner bowler
who who like who stops in his action and then balls.
Have you seen him? Well, I think it's I just saw a
clip of him right before I was standing here.
He was playing in the Abu Dhabi 210.
Yeah, that's probably for me. I'm into it.
It's more of Multan Sultan's, Ali Tarin's team.
Who? Just Ali Tarin.
I thought Multan Sultan's were, you know, I'm going to be
honest, I thought they were also scientists, kind of a boring
team. They always have a like static
playing 11. They don't really move a lot.
They have too much of A wholesome vibe.
They're they don't have any bad boys.
Their character is quite straight.
And then I heard Aliterino on Radio Carte and I was like, this
guy is unhinged, bro, what the hell is this guy on?
So my respect to Mutton's. Mutton's has gotten up and I do,
I do think that they they have what it takes to do it again.
Honestly. They've paid four straight
finals. I think they've won one of them
at least and it's been a tough loss for them.
But they've they've done some good retentions here, but I
don't want to read them out. Bizwan and Osama bin in the
platinum. Category now that's this is the
point of contention that Ali had.
It was like Osama Meer in platinum is too high even for
his own sake. Again, you have to reconsider
what is the criteria for picking Osama Meer in the platinum
category. And that is the fact that he was
one of the best Lex spinners of the PSL last year.
That's also why I brought him with this in Diamond.
And yeah, it's it's a performance based thing.
It's a brand value thing. Osama Bin is currently playing
in the Big bash, performing pretty well for Melbourne Stars.
So he's he's a top notch flex Pinner in the PSL scene.
If they're not Ahmed, is he? Is that what, What is that icon
next to him? Is that brand ambassador next to
him? I think he's the brand
ambassador. He's the brand ambassador.
He's in diamond which means he's basically getting platinum
money, which is interesting. I guess first, he really had a
really good PSL season in 2024 so I don't see why that's not
it. That wouldn't be the case.
The name that really bites me is Ismail Khan.
I got really bad flashbacks from just the past 18 months of
cricket that Pakistan has played in.
The T20 is and tough run for me as a fan.
Yeah, spawn Khan and Diamond. By the way, he.
Just scored us Cassandra in BPL so he's like shitting on our
faces as we shit back on him. Again, that's Mon Han.
Great batsman against poor bowling.
Yeah, we see this. I'm going to be very shocked if
he ever continues to perform consistently at the
international level. Just does not have the technique
or the right mindset. I I don't even know how he's
playing for Pakistan, but he's honestly, I can't tell.
Him, but he is APSL legend. That's the vibe.
Let's keep him. If if Mozhan had won last year,
he would have probably been player of the tournament, let's
be honest. Maybe.
Yeah, maybe. Probably.
He was, he was in the running for that for sure.
Chris Jordan gold and Faisal Akram relegated down to silver.
They got a lot of space open there.
They're probably going to want to pack it up with some really
interesting draft picks coming in on the 13th.
Now the final team Lahore calendars, you guys shine
Afridi, focus them on Platinum. Interesting.
I think focus them on Platinum is a really good pick.
The Harris Rove as AI believe brand ambassador.
Yeah, brand ambassador diamond, but that just means he's getting
platinum money, which is good for him.
Harris Rove deserve that is in diamond as well, which is good
for him as well as Zimbabwean and you know X Pakistani
national. I met him at the GT20.
Very nice guy, lovely guy, relegated to gold.
And Lahore actually made a post of the LA Shafi been really
relegated. It's actually hilarious but also
very sad. Like if I'm with LA Shafiq I'm
pissed. I'm pissed seeing my team make a
social media post about his relegation.
It was like about. Congratulations, relegation
complete or something? Yeah, something like that.
What calendars like some invite? What are you doing?
Like get a better social media guy.
Come on, this is this is tough. You guys Salman Khan and Jahan
dad Khan both in gold as well and David we say and so where
you mentioned that there has to be some sort of deal going on
there, maybe a commercial deal, whereas you know, even though
David we say isn't celebrated, probably getting gold money.
Is that the vibe, Bashar? I can't say that for sure, but
but maybe he's getting some commercial money.
That's the vibe. OK, so what's let me just who
did it's the release. It's released Fahim Ashraf and
Alex Hales as then we released retained 3 spinners in out of
your group, Sufjan Mukhin, Mehra Mutas.
KK released Malik which is big news.
Ms. released Abbas Afaidi Muhammad Ali.
Muhammad Ali had the most wickets in the 2024 PSLPSL. 9
Abbas Afaidi had also been consistently in the top five
wicket takers the past 2. Years and he's been playing for
Pakistan, he was in the World Cup squad and he was in the
tours in South Africa and Australia.
So that's a really interesting release for me.
I mean, Lutheran did explain why that happened and he also kind
of hinted that a bus after he's already in talks with another
team being drafted. Where do you think he's going?
Probably in the platinum category, some are saying
Karachi Kings. I'm just really excited to see
what teams pick what local players in the platinum category
because sometimes because you have to pick a player in the
platinum category, it can sometimes become an issue
because that player may not deserve to be in the platinum
category. For example, I hate to take
names, but Mohammed Nawaz last year was in the platinum
category for Karachi Kings. And then the year before,
Heather Ali was in the platinum category for Karachi Kings.
And then because they picked him in the platinum category, they
had to play him all the matches and he was out of form.
So after six matches, they sort of they were forced to drop him
and then he went unpicked in the in the last year's draft to the
point where he was picked as a supplementary player by
Islamabad. And then he performed the way he
did. But just those highs and lows
are quite insane to me. What's the supplementary salary
looking like? Is it emerging level or is it
like different? I'm not sure.
Because he was in goal this year which is like 50K50K up to 50K
up to 50K. Not bad for Italy for a comeback
season and so far as Ahmed and Hosni were also released, which
is an interesting call for me because Hosni had quite a good
year this year with the Champions Cup in the ODI format
and as well as just playing for the box on team, he's he's been
pretty good. I agree Hosni should be picked
up, Nawaz should be picked up. I think it's going to be an
interesting draft coming up. What are your most excited
players in the draft? Can we name some of the players
that we have? Yeah, so look this up.
Some potential big names that have signed up for the PSL that
have been announced so far. David Warner, Kim Saathi, Finn
Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Swan Kwaja.
Adam Milne, Sean Abbott, Matthew Short.
I believe there is Mujeeb Rehman, Shakib Alesan.
Also, the official list of all Platinum players in the foreign
category have not been released yet.
I think they have. They have not.
They've only released gold category so diamond and platinum
is still left. I guess they'll just wait till
the actual draft day to release it.
But the teams who are involved are aware of which players are
available to. Them we got some Canadian
players in there too. Yeah, I saw.
Aaron Johnson, Hamza Thadek, Jeremy Gordon, Kalim Sana.
Respects. Why are there English player
names here? I thought England wasn't the ECB
weren't giving Nocs to their players.
They may be like retired English players or I.
I don't know exactly why. Most of the names are kind,
kind, yeah, quite retired. Quite retired, I would say.
But again, this is the gold category for and so I don't want
to be judging too hard on this. But kind of sad that the English
players aren't coming this year because here the joke was that
if you want to see who was the next big T1 who played for
England, just watch the last PSL.
Harry Brooke was famously picked in the silver category for Hulk
Unders, and then he went on to play for England and then he was
one of the highest paid players in the IPL the following year.
David Milan was an OG, Peshawar some new player, and then he
went on to play for England in all three formats.
Jordan Cox was a player for Istanbul United this past season
and then he went on to play a Test for England.
Point is, a lot of emerging English players get a chance to
come to the BPL with the PSL, to showcase their talent, to get
familiarized with these conditions, and then they go
make it big on the English cricket team.
These are the picks, by the way, that that are going to go in
this order for the first round, platinum 1 picks, it goes
Lahore, it goes Karachi, Quetta, then it goes Peshawar, Multan,
then Islamabad and then the platinum two round picks goes
Quetta, Karachi, Quetta, Karachi.
So there's some picks and you know, trades and stuff that that
have been applied there for the reason of Quetta going twice and
Karachi going twice and no other team going at all.
And then you go back into the diamond picks with diamond with
Karachi, Zelmi and then Islamabad and then so on and so
forth. This goes on and on.
You guys can check all this out on PS LS Instagram page.
But very interesting platinum one round.
I'm very interested in what how that goes.
Now I'm I want to know what what Zelmi does.
I want to know what Islamabad does, and honestly, I want to
know what Karachi does. They have a second pick.
I think the first pick is the most important one.
What does the whole Gandhar's pick?
Who do they need? I think in terms of like brand
value and just hype Warner, like having David Warner and Fahad
Zaman opening, that's that is a dream of any T20 freak.
That's cinema, right? That's that's box office.
People are going to tune into that.
That's just going to be like 6 overs 80 or 6 overs 30 for two.
It's going to be insane. I don't know why but I feel like
they might like Kalanders might pick.
Rusty, the platinum category. I don't know why.
I do feel like Islamabad will probably pick like Sean Abbott
or Jason Holder because they released funny much stuff so
they now they need a fast bowling all rounder so maybe
even Tim Southey. Yeah, interesting.
I'm looking forward to this. Man, Why is this happening
again? This is happening Jan 13th.
Jan 13th, what we're doing in right after we'll do a draft
review. We'll have a clearer picture on
what the squad looks like for the PSL 10 coming up for all the
teams. We'll discuss which teams are
looking more favorable, which teams are sort of coming in
short handed. I'm looking at you could
actually already, I already know this is going to happen and
we'll see which teams are in the rebuilding process and which
teams are kind of going out for the gold again.
It's going to be an interesting few weeks.
The PSL is coming in full swing this year.
They're challenging or maybe not challenging, challenging the top
word. They're definitely going up
against the IPO. That's the vibe.
And the IPL and the PSL are going to run Concord, which is
going to be an interesting experiment.
And seeing how the broadcasting rights ago, how, how does fan
engagement feels, the viewership feels, it definitely be
overshadowed by the IPL because the IP LS also like a six week
or eight week tournament. It's extremely long.
The PSL might just come in, come in and go and you'll still be
playing league games in the IPL. That might just be the case.
That'll be interesting how those two work.
This 10th edition of the PSL is extremely important because
right after this we get 2 new teams announced, 2 new owners.
More players in the draft in the local and and foreign categories
will be able to be picked up from the next season onwards and
we'll just see what the two new teams are.
I think 8 teams in in PSL seems to write like right about the
right number. I would love to see who these
new teams are going to be. Are they going to be from
Punjab? Are they going to be from Sin?
One's going to be CL code. Is that a fact?
Just no. Who's your?
Just no. I told you first.
Who's the fuck that bro? You got to fuck that?
Don't. Worry about it, don't worry
about it. Ciago doesn't have to be about
those teams. I think they're going to go with
SIN with the other team. They're going to probably go
Hyderabad or they're probably going to go one of those.
It could be sale court or if they want to go for like Punjab
Central it could be another like a fast Lamar team.
Yeah, it's it's they're definitely going to go Punjab.
The second team they should go send is my opinion, but they
might just go KBA as well. I don't know.
I'm it'll be an interesting thing to see what other two team
comes in and and how they how the how the PSL changes, because
it's been a good ten years, a decade of the PSL.
Man, imagine that. I, I remember watching Ifan
Donato's video when Islamabad was winning, I believe their
second title and it was in Karachi and Roman Reis was
there. And that's how I got
reintroduced to the PSL. And it's been a while, right
from watching that video in the comfort of my bed and then to
going to actually work with the PSL in Islamabad United and then
now at this position. So, you know, onwards and
upwards for, for everybody, for all the fantasies involved.
PSL is a very important aspect of boxing and cricket, which we
cover a lot and we love and we're boxing cricket leaning.
So we really want this thing to succeed and if anybody needs our
expertise and our services in order to find us.
I think Box On has two things that they can export to the
world #1 being Coke Studio, Pasuri was one of the biggest
songs of 23 and people knew Pasuri, Coke Studio, Box On.
And then the second one I think is Cricket and Box On Cricket
PSL. So it's one of the big span that
Box On has often times very disappointed to see how it
actually operates, what happens behind the scenes and how
incompetent someone's staff is in the PSL.
And how the PCB just keeps trying to cannibalize one of
their biggest products by launching more leagues against
it, for example the Pakistan Junior League, instead of just
engaging the current franchises. They even they had new owners,
they had new names, new teams. Even the women's league, it was
anything he was talking about, like let the owners of this
current PSA lot be the owners of the women team.
They can run like how they run it in the 100 or the Big Bash.
The Big Bash, right? They can have a day game with
the women's team and the night game with the men's team and
they can be the same teams. It'll just create a lot more
eyeballs and a lot more hype. But lo and behold, it's when I
turned around to see who who stabbed me in the back on my
own. On that note, guys, thank you
for tuning in. We were trying our best to make
sense of the PSL of the draft. It gets technical.
I know that. We tried our best to explain it
to you guys. I think I learned a lot,
honestly. I came into this line and I came
out with at least some sense and skeleton of how this thing works
and I'm ready for the 13th man I'm on.
Let's go. We'll see you guys soon.
After the PSL, we'll do APSL Roundup squad review.
Draft roundup. Draft roundup.
Yeah, definitely. If you guys are listening in,
please do leave a review on Spotify and Apple Music.
And if you guys are tuning in from YouTube, like subscribe,
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Or even in our Discord server, we've just revamped it.
There's changes happening. We want to be improving your
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Discourse server as a non-toxic place to discuss cricket with
people who have the same interests as you.
And they're extremely funny. Everybody.
Everybody in that Discourse server is absolutely hilarious.
We got a meme channel. I just launched an edits channel
where people can come in and post edits.
I sometimes find myself doomscrolling on these edits.
Some of them are extremely well made.
Join in on the conversation, give your feedback, and get an
opportunity to, you know, interrupt this as well.
And three words, meme review coming.
So Discord, keep your eyes open. All right, guys, we're tuning
out. It's been over 15 minutes since
we've been chatting. Bashar, thank you very much for
your time and your, your you put a lot of hours in to basically
understand it and then relay it back to me and and to the
viewers. Appreciate you.
Thank you guys for tuning in. We'll see you guys in the next
episode.