Peshawar Zalmi appear to have held on to their biggest name ahead of the PSL 11 auction, with reports indicating the franchise has retained Babar Azam in the Platinum category.
There was no formal statement in the final hours leading up to the retention deadline. However, Zalmi owner Javed Afridi fueled confirmation speculation by sharing a photo with Babar on social media, captioned with a yellow heart and a crown, a clear nod to the “King” nickname often associated with the star batter.
The development comes amid recent chatter that Babar could be on the move, with the newly added PSL franchises Sialkot and Hyderabad said to be interested in securing a marquee signing.
Alongside Babar, Zalmi are also reported to have retained Sufiyan Muqeem.
With Babar staying in the Platinum bracket, the decision could reshape Zalmi’s top-order plans. The franchise is only permitted to retain one player per category, and both Babar Azam and Saim Ayub were placed in the Platinum category. That makes it increasingly likely Zalmi may have to part ways with Saim ahead of the auction.
In other news, Sialkot Stallionz made major headlines with the direct signing of Babar Azam’s Sydney Sixers teammate, Steve Smith from Australia. The announcement has sent shockwaves around PSL with other franchises looking to make similar major moves ahead of the PSL 11 Player Auction.