LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Thursday, announced that Sri Lanka’s white-ball captain Charith Asalanka 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 banner and a caption stating, "A class act! Sri Lankan ODI and T20I captain Charith Asalanka enters the #HBLPSLDraft."
The 27-year-old, who made his international debut in 2021, was appointed Sri Lanka’s white-ball captain in July last year, replacing all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga.
Asalanka has represented Sri Lanka in three Tests, 68 ODIs and 58 T20Is and scored 3500 runs across formats with the help of three centuries and 20 fifties.
He also boasts a wealth of experience in T20s, playing 134 matches. The batting all-rounder, however, played only one franchise league – International League T20 – besides his country’s Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Notably, Asalanka is the first Sri Lankan and 30th 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:
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.