England wicketkeeper-batter registers for PSL 10 draft

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) announced on Friday that England's wicketkeeper-batter, Sam Billings, has registered for the highly anticipated player draft for the upcoming 10th edition of the league.

The announcement was made through a video compilation of Billings' batting highlights from his previous PSL appearances, shared on the league’s official social media channels. The post read, "English wicketkeeper/batter Sam Billings enters the #HBLPSLDraft."

Billings, 33, has represented England across all formats, having played three Tests, 28 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 37 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). In these formats, he has accumulated 1,246 runs, including one century and seven fifties.

In addition to his international career, Billings boasts significant experience in franchise leagues, having participated in the Bangladesh Premier League, International League T20, Indian Premier League (IPL), and Big Bash League (BBL).

Billings has previously featured in two editions of the PSL, winning a title with Lahore Qalandars in 2023. Over 20 PSL matches, he has scored 402 runs, averaging 25.12, with a strike rate of 131.37, and his highest score being 78.

Notably, Billings becomes the eighth English player and the 33rd overall foreign player to sign up for the PSL 10 draft, which will be held in Gwadar, Balochistan, on January 11, 2025. This marks the first time the draft will take place in Balochistan.

The draft's pick order has also been announced. Two-time champions Lahore Qalandars will make the first pick in the platinum category, followed by arch-rivals Karachi Kings. 2019 champions Quetta Gladiators will select third, with Peshawar Zalmi securing the fourth pick. Last season's runners-up, Multan Sultans, and reigning champions Islamabad United will pick fifth and sixth, respectively.

Foreign players registered for the PSL 10 player draft include: Sam Billings, Pathum Nissanka, 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, Sikandar Raza.