The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suffered two huge blows. Having already shot themselves in the foot by scheduling their marquee event, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), at the same time as the Indian Premier League (IPL), they have now lost out on two of the biggest cricketing names in the world. According to Cricket Pakistan, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson have decided to pull their names out of the PSL 2025 draft.
Kane Williamson & Steve Smith pull out of PSL 2025 draft
The players’ draft is supposed to take place on January 11. The venue for it was decided as Gwadar in Balochistan, but reports suggest it’s being moved to Lahore. Smith and Williamson were placed in the platinum category of the marquee players and would have gotten somewhere around between $350,000 to $400,000 (Rs 2.9 to 3.8 crore) after the PCB increased their salary caps in December last year.
The reason for them pulling out isn’t certain. But a reason could be that they might have a chance to join the IPL 2025 as an injury replacement, and if they get picked and then join the PSL, they won’t be able to do so.
English players’ NOC issue
There are two other issues as well. Several English players have registered for the PSL 2025 draft, but they haven’t been given No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). It was previously suggested that English players won’t be allowed by the ECB to play in franchise leagues other than the IPL to improve their domestic competitions.
PSL 2025 Draft: Platinum Category
- Australia: David Warner, Matthew Short, Chris Lynn, Riley Meredith and Steve Smith (subject to confirmation)
- Bangladesh: Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan
- England: Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Curran, David Willey and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (if NOCs are granted)
- New Zealand: Tim Southee, Adil Milne, Mark Chapman, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell and Kane Williamson (subject to confirmation)
- Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis
- West Indies: Shai Hope
- Afghanistan: Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Virat Kohli's latest Test ranking is more than his average at BGT 2024/25, veteran hits all-time low
Top Stories
India Cricket Team departs Australia to return home, focus shifts to IND vs ENG and Champions Trophy
Did India miss the trick by not playing Sarfaraz Khan in Australia? Ex-cricketer talks about what if
