Fans anticipated that Karachi Kings, Sarfaraz's hometown team, might pick him in the draft
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was among the notable players left unpicked in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 player draft, held on Monday.
Sarfaraz, a key figure for the Quetta Gladiators since the league's inception, was released by the franchise earlier this month. Speculations suggested the Gladiators might re-sign the experienced wicketkeeper-batter during the draft. However, Sarfaraz announced on Sunday that he had parted ways with the 2019 champions.
Fans anticipated that Karachi Kings, Sarfaraz's hometown team, might pick him in the draft. However, sources close to the Kings later revealed that the 37-year-old was not part of their plans. Ultimately, no team showed interest in acquiring the former Gladiators captain.
Meanwhile, Tim Southee, who was placed in the platinum category, also went unpicked as none of the six franchises opted for the seasoned pacer.
Another surprising omission was Pakistan's pacer Ihsanullah. The right-arm bowler rose to prominence during PSL 2023 with an outstanding performance, taking 22 wickets for Multan Sultans. Despite his impressive form, Ihsanullah failed to secure a spot this year.
England’s Jason Roy, who holds the record for the highest individual score in PSL history, was another notable name on the unpicked list, alongside Alex Hales. Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, and several other international stars also remained unsold.
Notable players left unpicked in the PSL 10 player draft:
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Tim Southee, Ihsanullah, Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ashton Agar, Chris Lynn, Cooper Connolly, Daniel Sams, Jason Behrendoff, Mark Steketee, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, William Sutherland, Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Joe Clarke, Laurie Evans, Tymal Mills, Jimmy Neesham, Imran Tahir, Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Charith Asalanka, Evin Lewis.