Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and all six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises have reached an agreement under which all teams will be able to pick two additional players each in the Supplementary Category for the upcoming seventh season of the T20 tournament, scheduled to begin from January 27.
Issuing a statement, the PCB said: “Although each side can select one foreign player each, the decision opens up opportunities for the local emerging cricketers to experience franchise cricket that will contribute in their grooming and development. Separately, this will also provide extra players to the teams, should they require for reasons beyond their control.”
“The teams will pick additional players in the Replacement Player Draft, which is expected to take place through a virtual session on 7 January 2022,” it added.
After the development, Karachi Kings will have the first option to pick the first additional player, followed by Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans and Peshawar.
“This order has been decided through a random draw,” the board added.
The board further said that using the reverse order format, the second picks will be as follows: Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings.
Notably, the PSL, the PCB’s marquee event will begin from January 27 in Karachi and the upcoming season will be staged in two phases with the first one to be held in Karachi while the second and last phase will be held in Lahore. Each phase will consist of 15 matches each.
Following an opening ceremony, defending champions Multan Sultans will take on hosts and 2020 champions Karachi Kings at the National Stadium in Karachi, which will begin at 7pm PKT.
Later, 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators will face 2017 winners Peshawar Zalmi on the following day.
The final will be held in Lahore.
Meanwhile, after the sudden postponement of the West Indies tour of Pakistan due to the emergence of Covid-19 cases inside the secure bio-bubble, the PCB is extra cautious for the upcoming PSL edition.
PCB Chief Operating Office Salman Naseer said that the recent experience has made the board extra cautious for the upcoming seventh edition of the T20 League.
“There will be players coming from different countries, from different flights. So we will have to be extra cautious,” he told reporters in Karachi.
“We are looking to book the entire hotel during the PSL and disconnect the staff and everyone at the hotel from outside,” he added.