PSL Draft: Lahore Qalandars the big winners, bag AB de Villiers for PSL 4

Published November 20, 2018
AB de Villiers is set to play for the Qalandars in PSL 4. — File
AB de Villiers is set to play for the Qalandars in PSL 4. — File

As expected, Lahore Qalandars were the big winners of the PSL Draft 2018 as they bagged South African superstar AB de Villiers for the fourth season of the Pakistan Super League.

The Qalandars are easily the least successful of the six PSL sides and have finished dead last in each of the first three editions of the tournament. With the first pick of the draft, the Rana Fawad-owned franchise appear to have secured the platinum category player who could ensure that they snap their run of three straight bottom finishes.

The Qalandars, who traded away Umar Akmal in a blockbuster trade earlier this month, also secured the services of another veteran: Mohammad Hafeez.

Meanwhile, hard-hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard, who has played for the Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans in the past, has been snapped by Peshawar Zalmi, who parted ways with Hafeez recently.

The sixth franchise, which is now unnamed following the termination of contract by the PCB, bagged two superstars: Shahid Afridi and Steve Smith.

Elsewhere, Quetta Gladiators drafted Dwayne Bravo with their platinum category pick.

Opinion

Editorial

On press freedoms
Updated 03 May, 2026

On press freedoms

THE citizenry forgets, to its own peril, how important a free and independent media is in the preservation of their...
Inflation strain
03 May, 2026

Inflation strain

PAKISTAN’S return to double-digit inflation after 21 months signals renewed economic strain where external shocks...
Troubled waters
03 May, 2026

Troubled waters

PAKISTAN’S water crisis is often framed in terms of scarcity. Increasingly, it is also a crisis of contamination....
Iran stalemate
Updated 02 May, 2026

Iran stalemate

THE US and Iran are currently somewhere between war and peace. While a tenuous ceasefire — extended largely due to...
Tax shortfall
02 May, 2026

Tax shortfall

THE Rs684bn shortfall in tax collection during the first 10 months of the fiscal year is a continuation of a...
Teaching inclusion
02 May, 2026

Teaching inclusion

DISCRIMINATORY and exclusionary content in Punjab’s textbooks has been flagged in Inclusive Education for a United...