In a landmark move within the Pakistan Super League (PSL) history, the Quetta Gladiators orchestrated one of the "biggest trade deals" for the upcoming ninth season. This transaction involved the exchange of Iftikhar Ahmed from the Multan Sultans in lieu of Rilee Rossouw. The Multan Sultans, confirming the trade, disclosed that the deal includes them acquiring the first pick in the platinum round and the first Silver category pick.
Iftikhar Ahmed, dubbed as #IftiMania, expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Multan Sultans, emphasizing his delight in representing the passionate fans of Multan. He articulated his commitment to aiding the team in pursuing the prestigious PSL trophy.
Multan Sultans' captain, Mohammad Rizwan, welcomed Iftikhar, praising his outstanding all-round skills and team-oriented approach. Rizwan expressed eagerness to assemble a cohesive group of players aligned with the team's positive, bold, and aggressive brand of cricket. The trade also marks Rilee Rossouw's return to the Quetta Gladiators, the franchise where he made his PSL debut.
This notable transfer is the second confirmed trade in the PSL ahead of the scheduled draft on December 13. A day earlier, Imad Wasim was traded from the Karachi Kings to Islamabad United for Hassan Ali. Imad Wasim, a key figure in Karachi Kings' maiden PSL title win, will now play for Islamabad United under the Platinum category, while Hassan Ali, who represented Islamabad in the last season, is set to join the Karachi Kings under the Diamond category.
The PSL officially confirmed this player trade, revealing that Karachi Kings received Islamabad United's first-round silver pick in exchange for their second-round silver pick. These dynamic trades add an extra layer of anticipation to the upcoming PSL season, promising fresh team dynamics and exciting matchups.