New Zealand star batter joins PSL 10 Draft

New Zealand’s opener Martin Guptill has officially signed up for the player draft of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10th edition, the league announced on Monday.  

The PSL unveiled the news through its social media platforms, accompanied by a compilation of Guptill's standout performances, including his explosive century against Karachi Kings in PSL 8.  

“New Zealand’s powerhouse opener Martin Guptill enters the HBL PSL Draft,” the statement read.  

The 38-year-old has represented New Zealand in 47 Tests, 198 ODIs, and 122 T20Is, accumulating over 13,000 runs across formats. In T20 cricket alone, Guptill has scored 9738 runs in 348 matches, boasting a strike rate of 130.44, with six centuries and 57 half-centuries.  

Guptill is no stranger to the PSL, having participated in the league three times. His PSL record includes 18 matches with 519 runs at an average of 30.52 and a strike rate of 139.52. The right-handed batter has registered one century and three half-centuries in his PSL career.  

The explosive opener has also enjoyed success in the league, winning the title with Islamabad United, where he scored a match-winning half-century off 32 balls in the final against Multan Sultans.

Guptill is now the third New Zealander and the 21st foreign player to confirm his registration for the PSL 10 draft. The event is set to take place in Gwadar, Balochistan, on January 11, 2025, marking the first time the draft will be held in the region.  

Additionally, the PSL has announced the pick order for the draft. Two-time champions Lahore Qalandars will have the first pick in the platinum category, followed by Karachi Kings. Quetta Gladiators will pick third, Peshawar Zalmi fourth, with last season’s runners-up Multan Sultans and reigning champions Islamabad United making the fifth and sixth picks, respectively.