Pakistan Super League which is scheduled to take place in Dubai starting from the 4th of February, 2016 had its inaugural player Draft Today.

The teams had to choose from 308 foreign and local players that are listed for the draft. As one user tweeted, “History in the making! One small step for cricket, one giant leap for Pakistan Sports.” Pakistani cricket scenario has sort of been in a downhill posture since the infamous attack in 2009 on the Sri Lankan Cricket team. This indeed is a breath of fresh air for Pakistani cricket.

Players had been divided into five categories

Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver and Emerging. Each team will be required to pick three players from each of the three top categories (Platinum, Diamond and Gold) and two from the Emerging category. A team will be able to pick up to five players from the Silver category.

Source: Daily Times

A total of 310 players, including 138 from Pakistan are open to be drafted with 29 put in the Platinum category, 39 in Diamond, 60 in Gold, 123 in Silver, and 59 in Emerging.

Just 15 of the 27 players in the Platinum category were picked up (three in each side) by the five franchises

The teams from Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad and Quetta made picks. If a player went unpicked in a certain category, he has the choice of getting relegated to the next category.

Source: Sports Keeda

Islamabad got the first pick and then Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and Lahore. The picks were according to a ballot held on 15th December.

Here are the teams as they stand at the end of the Platinum, Diamond and Gold rounds

Islamabad United: 1 Shane Watson, 2 Andre Russell, 3 Misbah-ul-Haq, 4 Samuel Badree, 5 Mohammad Irfan, 6 Brad Haddin, 7 Sharjeel Khan, 8 Mohammad Sami, 9 Khalid Latif

Karachi Kings: 1 Shoaib Malik, 2 Shakib Al Hasan, 3 Sohail Tanvir, 4 Imad Wasim, 5 Ravi Bopara, 6 Lendl Simmons, 7 Mohammad Amir, 8 Bilawal Bhatti, 9 James Vince

Peshawar Zalmi: 1 Shahid Afridi, 2 Wahab Riaz, 3 Darren Sammy, 4 Kamran Akmal, 5 Mohammad Hafeez, 6 Chris Jordan, 7 Tamim Iqbal, 8 Junaid Khan, 9 Jim Allenby

Quetta Gladiators: 1 Kevin Pietersen, 2 Sarfraz Ahmed, 3 Ahmed Shehzad, 4 Anwar Ali, 5 Jason Holder, 6 Luke Wright, 7 Zulfiqar Babar, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Elton Chigumbura
Lahore Qalandars: 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Dwayne Bravo, 3 Umar Akmal, 4 Mohammad Rizwan, 5 Yasir Shah, 6 Shoaib Maqsood, 7 Mustafizur Rahman, 8 Kevon Cooper, 9 Cameron Delport

Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Shoaib Malik and Keven Petrison got sold for a whopping 200,000 USD each.

Surprisingly Mohammad Hafeez didn’t get picked nor did Younus Khan

And rest assured Younus will not be happy about this. In a not so surprising news Afridi got picked by Peshawar Zalmi, after they traded picks with Islamabad United. 

End of Day 1 for PSL DRAFT and this is how teams look like uptill now. #PSLDRAFT #PSLT20 #AbKhelKeDikha pic.twitter.com/CpvVtWpOzf

— Cricket Pakistan (@Cricket_PCB) December 21, 2015

Though PSL itself is something to be really excited about regardless you being a cricket enthusiast or not, it’s the first time Pakistan is introducing a sports franchise event which is already making waves globally. But for a cricket fan especially there are so many things to look forwards to.

The rivalries looking at the Draft till now, one can predict the following:

There will be a competition for who will hit more sixes

Source: SLPL 2020

Between Chris Gayle of Lahore Qalandars and Shahid Afridi of Peshawar Zalmi, the PSL is sure going to be a big hit (pun, intended). But don’t rule out any other surprise hitters, either.

The clash between these two again

Source: ESPN Cricinfo

As Wahab Riaz is signed by Peshawar Zalamis and Shane Watson by Islamabad United. Will we again have another showdown of high bouncers and flying kisses? I sure as hell hope so!! Though Rahat Ali is not part of Peshawar Zalmis yet, so no worries there;-)

There was a little bit of controversy at the draft too

All publicity is good publicity, right? With all it’s shine and glamour, it like any other subcontinent teams has it’s fair share of controversy attached to it as well.

Yes, the infamous Mohammad Amir is officially part of the PSL. He was signed earlier today by Karachi Kings.

Moreover, initally Mohammad Hafeez wasn’t picked in the platinum category and it stirred some rumors but he was selected for a lower price in the Diamond category by Peshawar Zalmis.

Younus Khan didn’t get selected and he’s probably going to take this a little too hard(maybe double retirement from T20?) but let’s face it, his T20 performances have been far from stellar. Though just a few days ago, he mentioned he would probably be looking for a leadership role in any of the teams. OUCH?!

The Srilankan duo Mahella Jawardane and Sangkara weren’t selected either, but that’s probably because they can’t commit full time to the PSL.

The distance between Ahmad Shezad and Afridi grew even more, as Mr.Javed Afridi didn’t show the same love to Ahmad and kept Afridi all for himself. Sorry Ahmad Shezad,hopefully a selfie will make you feel better.

Lots of people wanted to know the whereabouts of Imran Nazir

For those asking. @imrancrickter isn't in @thePSLt20 as he's recovering from career-threatening arthritis. Best wishes to him for the future

— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalanders) December 19, 2015

Well we all wish him a speedy recovery!

Glad to share that the famous all rounder Abdurrazzaq's name has been included in the players list of PSL. #PSLT20 @RazzaqOfficial

— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalanders) December 18, 2015

The love was only till his inclusion in the Draft! Not much s*** was given after by either of the teams.

Who has the best logo and name?

Some quite didn’t get the logic behind the Qalandar while others hailed it as a unique sufi-inspired take on cricket.

#PSL #PSLT20 2B decided in the field. But #PeshawarZalmi #KhpalTeamPeshawar wins hands down for BestLogo & TeamName pic.twitter.com/NUy1XrQA6q

— Adil Najam عادل نجم (@AdilNajam) December 21, 2015

Though some were pretty sure of who won!

@AdilNajam I think Islamabad is worse… Two "united" in a logo… Ridiculous!

— SabahatMS (@SabahatMS) December 21, 2015

Everyone had their own take!

Still one more day to go for the Draft to be complete, and a few notable and lots of young talent left to be picked. Lot of English men, Australian players and well, Younus Khan too, are among those yet to be picked. Most of them will be selected since it’s a 16 men squad so even if their availability is an issue for the whole tournament team managers might still want them in their squad. Especially Lahore Qalandars who still apart from Dwayne Bravo don’t not have a proper fast bowler in the team.

Check back for more on the draft picks from Day 2.