PSL 2025 Draft: Kane Williamson snubbed; David Warner, Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman join platinum ranks

Ace New Zealand batter Kane Williamson has suffered yet another embarrassment in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 Draft on January 13. The former New Zealand captain failed to find any taker in the Platinum category in the PSL 2025 Draft after going unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

The PSL 2025 Draft was held in Lahore on January 13, where 10 players were picked from the Platinum category, but Kane Williamson failed to attract any bids. The Black Caps legend is in great form with the bat and is currently playing in South Africa’s SA20 2025.

Kane Williamson goes unsold in PSL 2025 Draft after IPL 2025 auction snub

Presently, the right-handed batter is playing for Durban's Super Giants and has started the season with a stunning knock of 60* off 40 deliveries in the SA20 2025, but that was not enough to convince the Pakistan Super League franchise owners to show faith in him.

Kane Williamson, who is known for his technical brilliance in Tests and ODIs, has had his approach and lower strike rate often questioned in the fast-paced world of T20 cricket. His struggles to adapt to the aggressive demands of franchise leagues have likely affected his appeal in the leagues.

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Fitness concerns have also played a significant role in his fading value in the franchise cricket world. The 34-year-old has battled multiple injuries, and even he was sidelined from T20I cricket throughout 2023. Williamson played only two matches between 2022 and 2024.

BIGGEST SHOCK 📢

- Williamson unsold in IPL Auction
- Williamson unsold in PSL Draft pic.twitter.com/iu7ZcWKrof

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 13, 2025

Meanwhile, USA wicketkeeper batter Andries Gous signed with Islamabad United, thus becoming the second American player to play in the PSL's history after fast bowler Ali Khan. Well, Lahore Qalandars used the Right to Match Card for Tayyab Tahir at the PSL 2025 Players Draft.

On the other hand, Peshawar Zalmi also used their Right to Match Card for Tom Kohler-Cadmore at the draft. Former Australian opener David Warner, who also went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, is all set to make his Pakistan Super League debut after being picked by Karachi Kings.

David Warner is among the top picks in the Platinum Category

Apart from David Warner, New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand’s Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell, England batter Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and Australian wicketkeeper batter Matthew Short were picked in the first round in the Platinum Category.

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In the second round, Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf and Abbad Afridi, as well as New Zealand’s Adam Milne and Finn Allen, were picked in the Platinum Category at the players draft on Monday. Notably, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings used the wildcard for Faheem Ashraf and Abbas Afridi, respectively.

Several surprises and big names in the two Platinum rounds! 🚨

➡️ Zalmi used the Right to Match card for Tom Kohler-Cadmore
➡️ Faheem Ashraf and Abbas Afridi were wildcard picks

Your thoughts❓#HBLPSLDraft | #DECADEOFHBLPSL pic.twitter.com/wjVkFKZLrB

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) January 13, 2025

Here are picks at PSL Draft 2025 so far:

Lahore Qalandars: Daryl Mitchell, Kusal Perera, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Mohammad Akhlaq, Momin Qamar

Peshawar Zalmi: Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Corbin Bosch, Abdul Samad (Wildcard), Nahid Rana, Hussain Talat, Ahmed Daniyal, Najibullah Zadran, Maaz Sadaqat

Multan Sultans: Michael Bracewell, Mohammad Hasnain, Kamran Ghulam, Akif Javed, Tayyab Tahir, Gudakesh Motie, Joshua Little, Shahid Aziz, Ubaid Shah

Islamabad United: Matthew Short, Jason Holder, Ben Dwarshuis, Salman Irshad, Mohammad Nawaz, Andries Ghous, Saad Masood, Hunain Shah,

Karachi Kings: David Warner, Adam Milne, Abbas Afridi (Wildcard), Khushdil Shah, Aamer Jamal, Mir Hamza, Litton Das, Riazullah, Fawad Ali

Quetta Gladiators: Mark Chapman, Faheem Ashraf, Finn Allen, Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Kyle Jamieson, Hasan Nawaz