The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday that the coastal city of Gwadar, located in the restive province of Balochistan, will host the players’ draft for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on January 11. Pakistan had also considered England and Dubai as potential venues.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that other details, such as the timing of the draft and the venue specifics, would be shared later.
Gwadar, a key hub of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, boasts one of the most beautiful and scenic cricket grounds in the country. However, due to recent attacks on security installations in the area, it has not hosted any cricket matches so far.
Naqvi explained that the decision to select Gwadar aimed to bring the game closer to the people of Balochistan and inspire future generations.
“Gwadar, with its stunning coastline and strategic importance, represents the heart of Pakistan’s economic future. By hosting the PSL player draft here, we aim to highlight its cultural and economic significance while celebrating the unity cricket brings to our nation,” Naqvi said.
“I look forward to welcoming all the franchises and relevant stakeholders to the beautiful city of Gwadar as we take an exciting step toward marking the start of the 10th edition of Pakistan’s biggest sporting extravaganza,” he added.
The PCB has already announced the list of Pakistani players placed by their franchises in the platinum and other categories. However, the final list of foreign players available for the draft is yet to be released.
This will be the first time the PSL, launched in 2016, clashes with the Indian Premier League (IPL), as it is scheduled to take place during the same window usually reserved for the IPL.
The PCB and its franchises are making efforts to attract high-profile overseas players who went unsold in last month’s IPL auction.
