Finally, the wait and curiosity of Pakistan Super League fans is over as the biggest news of HBL PSL 2024 has arrived. Right-arm fast bowler Naseem Shah joins Islamabad United (IU) for the upcoming season of Pakistan Super League 2024. In a successful trade with Quetta Gladiators (QG), Islamabad United has now grabbed Naseem Shah from Quetta in place of their right-arm fast bowler Muhammad Wasim (Jr.) and mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Where the trade of players between PSL franchises was going on before the Pakistan Super League player draft 2024, it was also certain that Naseem Shah would part ways with his team Quetta Gladiators QG). Keeping this situation in mind, all other franchises started contacting Naseem Shah and Quetta Gladiators (QG).
Initially, the news was circulating on social media that Naseem Shah is going to be a part of Peshawar Zalmi (PZ) for Pakistan Super League 2024. Peshawar Zalmi (PZ) seemed to be the strongest candidate to get Naseem Shah, but due to the tough demand of Quetta Gladiators (QG), it didn’t happen. Apart from Peshawar Zalmi (PZ), other franchises including Multan Sultan (MS) and Karachi Kings (KK) also contacted Naseem Shah and Quetta Gladiators (QG) to get Naseem Shah but could not reach any result.
Additionally, as a result of this trade, the Quetta Gladiators (QG) have also exchanged their third-round Platinum pick with Islamabad United’s First-round Platinum pick in the upcoming HBL PSL Player Draft 2024. This means that Quetta Gladiators now have two picks in the first round of the Platinum Category and zero picks in the third round of the same category. Similarly, Islamabad United now has zero picks in the first round of the Platinum Category but they will have two picks in the third round of the Platinum Category in the HBL PSL 9 Draft.
After the deal of Shadab Khan’s Islamabad United (IU) with Quetta Gladiators (QG), Naseem Shah Joins Islamabad United for PSL 9 2024. With this trade, all the rumors and speculations have died down, while a wave of disappointment has spread among the fans of all the franchises, especially the fans of Peshawar Zalmi (PZ).
The 20-year-old right-arm fast bowler Naseem Shah started his Pakistan Super League career in the fourth season of the HBL PSL in 2019, representing Quetta Gladiators and playing with them till the 8th season of HBL PSL 2023. Now Islamabad United will be the second team of Naseem Shah in the Pakistan Super League as Naseem Shah joins Islamabad United. Meanwhile, one of his trade partners, 22-year-old right-arm fast bowler Muhammad Wasim (Jr.) started his Pakistan Super League career in 2021 representing Islamabad United and played with them till the 8th season of HBL PSL 2023.
Now Quetta Gladiators will be the second team for Muhammad Wasim (Jr.) in the Pakistan Super League. Moreover, the 25-year-old right-arm mystery leg spinner Abrar Ahmed made his PSL debut in 2017 when he represented Karachi Kings, He then joined Peshawar Zalmi in HBL PSL 2021 and in 2023 He represented Islamabad United. Now Quetta Gladiators (QG) will be Abrar Ahmed’s fourth franchise in the Pakistan Super League.
Before this important trade, two big trades already have been done among the franchises. The first trade is between Imad Wasim and Hassan Ali, which is done between the Karachi Kings and Islamabad United. Imad Wasim moved to Islamabad United, while Hassan Ali moved to Karachi Kings.
The second big trade is between the Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans. The trade is between Iftikhar Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw. Iftikhar Ahmed moved to Multan Sultans and Rilee Rossouw moved to Quetta Gladiators. These trades are not as big as the Naseem Shah trade, where two players moved to Quetta Gladiators and Naseem Shah joins Islamabad United.
The confirmed date of the PSL draft 2024 is December 13th, 2023, and held at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. Further, PSL season 9 is expected to start on February 8th, 2024, and the opening ceremony of PSL 9 2024 is not yet decided.