PSL Franchises to Release Key Players Due to New Retention Policy
Another major issue has emerged in the PSL 11 ahead of the addition of two new teams, and that issue is the player retention policy.
PSL franchises want permission to retain up to five players, arguing that releasing too many core players will weaken team balance and continuity. However, PSL management is pushing for a limit of only three retained players per team so that a larger pool of quality players is available for the two new franchises.
According to PSL officials, if teams retain five or six players, the new franchises will struggle to find top-level talent in the draft or auction. They believe releasing more players will create a fair and competitive player pool.
Franchises argue that retaining only three players would force them to release key performers. For example, Lahore Qalandars would have to keep Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman, while releasing players like Sikandar Raza. Similar issues exist for other teams, including Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi, who also rely heavily on their core players.
Another concern for franchises is the bidding budget. If players are released and teams later want to buy back their own players through bidding, the fixed budget may not be enough to compete.
With PSL expansion approaching, franchises are demanding clarity before the new teams are finalized. The debate now centers on whether PSL should allow five retained players for stability or restrict teams to three to ensure fairness for the incoming franchises.
