LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Thursday, announced that top-ranked T20I bowler Akeal Hosein has signed up for the highly-anticipated player draft for the upcoming 10th edition of the marquee league.
The announcement was made on the league's social media handles with a compilation video of West Indian spinner’s wickets from his previous PSL appearances.
“The No. 1 T20I Bowler in the World joins the fray! West Indies spin magician Akeal Hosein enters the HBL PSL Draft.”
Akeal, who is a regular part of West Indies’ T20I side, having represented the former champions 67 times in the shortest format, has played two PSL seasons for Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The 31-year-old also holds the distinction of being one of the only six bowlers to take a hat-trick in the history of the marquee league.
Akeal achieved the feat against Peshawar Zalmi, while representing the Gladiators in the previous edition.
Overall, he has played 13 PSL matches and picked up 16 wickets at a decent average of 25.37 and an economy rate of just 7.96.
Besides PSL, Akeal has featured in top franchise leagues across the globe, including Indian Premier League, Big Bash League and The Hundred.
Notably, Akeal is the third West Indian and 31st overall foreign player to register for the PSL 10 draft, which will take place in Balochistan for the first time as Gwadar is set to host the landmark event on January 11, 2025.
The pick order for the player draft has also been announced, with two-time champions Lahore Qalandars making the first pick in the opening round of the platinum category, followed by arch-rivals Karachi Kings.
2019 champions Quetta Gladiators will make the third pick, while Peshawar Zalmi will have the fourth.
Last season’s runners-up, Sultans, and reigning champions United will make the fifth and sixth picks, respectively.
Registered foreign players for PSL 10 player draft:
Akeal Hosein, Charith Asalanka, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jason Holder, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Chris Lynn, Adam Milne, David Warner, Tim Southee, Martin Guptill, Rassie van der Dussen, Matthew Short, Gudakesh Motie, Alex Hales, Luke Wood, Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja, Corbin Bosh, Rilee Rossouw, Colin Munro, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Tom Curran, David Willey, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and Sikandar Raza.