LAHORE – HBL Pakistan Super League will once again feature the best ofPakistan cricket talent as the new categories of local players, who tookpart in the HBL PSL 2019 season, have been finalised.Pakistan T20I captain Babar Azam heads the Platinum category; teammatesShaheen Shah Afridi, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali (leading wicket-taker in HBL PSL2019) and Shadab Khan have graduated to the Platinum category for the HBLPSL 2020 season.The completion of the renewal process has also kick-started the playerrecruitment process for the upcoming season (HBL PSL 2020).As part of the category renewal process, one representative from each ofthe six franchises voted for local player categories. Franchiserepresentatives were not allowed to vote for their own players. Teams had aright to submit review requests at the end of this process.Head of Player Acquisition and Management Imran Ahmed Khan and NationalSelection Coordinator Nadeem Khan then reviewed the final list based onthis process.PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said on Friday: “With the completion of thecategory renewal process for the upcoming season of the HBL Pakistan SuperLeague we have reached an important milestone. These are exciting times aswe move closer and closer towards the 2020 season which will be a trulyhistoric one as all 34 matches will be played in Pakistan.”HBL PSL has become one of the most sought after T20 leagues in the world,the next edition will be even bigger and better, I am sure league fans bothin Pakistan and around the world will enjoy top-class cricket, withworld-class facilities at the stadiums and top-quality broadcast once thetournament begins in February 2020,” he said.Meanwhile, various factors such as HBL PSL performances, national teamperformances, domestic performances and perceived T20 brand value wereconsidered at length as part of the two-step player category renewalprocess.All those who have donned the Pakistan colours were assigned a basecategory of Gold. According to this year’s draft rules, each team isallowed to retain up to eight players from last year’s roster.Players who are U23 but have been called up to the Pakistan squad beforethe category finalization process cannot be a part of the Emergingcategory. Additionally, U23 players cannot be part of a squad as anEmerging player for more than two years unless they have played three orless matches in these two years.Teams reserve the right to float relegation requests for the players beforefinalizing retentions. After relegation request is floated, all other teamsshall be given a chance to meet the player’s base category. If no teammatches the player’s base category, the player will be relegated to acategory below his base category.Relegation requests may only be floated after obtaining consent from theplayer. ` The list of all local players who were not part of the HBL PSL2019 will be released separately.
New positive development reported over PSL 2020 by PCB
