LAHORE: Australia’s top-order batter Usman Khawaja, who previously represented Islamabad United, has officially signed up for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 player draft.
Usman, who is a pivotal part of Australia’s current Test side, has played one season of the PSL in 2021 when he represented inaugural champions Islamabad United.
The left-handed batter delivered performances in that season for the United as he accumulated 246 runs in just seven innings at a remarkable average of 49.20 and a strike rate of 152.79. He also scored one century and a half-century.
Khawaja, as a result, finished 12th in the list of the PSL 2021 top-scorers, led by Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam.
Besides Usman Khawaja, former England pacer David Willey has also signed up for the PSL 2025 draft.
Willey made an impressive impact during the ninth edition of the PSL for eventual runners-up Multan Sultans.
In the 11 matches he played, Willey claimed 15 wickets at an average of 20.40 and an economy rate of 7.46, finishing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the season.
His all-round performance in the final between Multan Sultans and Islamabad United was particularly notable, where he scored six runs off three balls and took a wicket.
With 19 PSL matches under his belt, Willey has proven to be a valuable asset for the Sultans, amassing a total of 28 wickets and contributing 66 runs.
It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to hold the PSL draft in Balochistan for the first time.
As per the announcement, the draft will take place in Gwadar, the port city of Pakistan's largest province, on January 11, 2025.
The pick order for the highly-anticipated players 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.