Pakistan Super League franchise Karachi Kings has released swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle and old warrior Kumar Sangakkara for the third edition of this league. Surprisingly Kings also released limited-over specialist Shoaib Malik and Kieron Pollard. However, they bought star all-rounder Shahid Afridi from Peshawar Zalmi. There are rumors that he can lead Karachi in the next season.
Interestingly, if picked, Gayle has to play for the third franchise in three seasons of PSL. Earlier he was with Lahore Qalanders for the inaugural edition of PSL. Apart from them, Karachi based team also let Mahela Jayawardene go, who was seen off color throughout the second season and managed runs at a mere average of 10. Though, they received Sohail Khan, second leading wicket taker of PSL 2, for Mohammad Rizwan from Lahore Qalanders.
On the other hand, Lahore leaves Jason Roy, Chris Green and Azhar Ali after a modest season. But the shocking decision came when they left out Grant Elliot from the team, who is associated with Qalanders’ Durban franchise for T20 Global League. While the captain and mentor Brandon McCullum will stay with the team for another season. Umar Akmal, Fakhar Zaman, Sunil Naraine, Yasir Shah, Cameron Delport, Bilawal Bhatti and Aamir Yamin are the other retained players in Lahore.
Other than Afridi, defending champion Peshawar Zalmi released Eoin Morgan and Tamim Iqbal while retaining Kamran Akmal who was the leading run-scorer of PSL 2.
Amidst, Islamabad United released Sam Billings, Shane Watson, Muhammad Irfan and Brad Haddin while naming Waqar Younis their coach. Also, they have invited all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmad, who will leave Peshawar Zalmi, and have retained bowlers Mohammad Sami and Rumman Raees.
Two-time runners-up Quetta Gladiators retained skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and Kevin Pietersen for season three and left opener Ahmed Shahzad and Umar Gul.
The third edition of Pakistan Super League will see six teams as Multan Sultans will be the new enterers. They will construct their team from the released players next week.
