PSL 2023: Haider Ali Promoted To Platinum Category; Sarfaraz Ahmed And Wahab Riaz Moved Down By PCB

In the latest development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has upgraded Peshawar Zalmi’s Haider Ali from the diamond to the platinum category for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL 2023).

Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfaraz Ahmed on the other hand has been moved down from platinum to gold while Peshawar captain Wahab Riaz has been downgraded from platinum to diamond. Hasan Ali, who left Zalmi for Islamabad United last year, has also been downgraded, from platinum to diamond.

All six franchises, however, have the right to challenge the promotions and request for the relegation of the player category before finalizing up to eight retentions for the 2023 season.

Players can be relegated if the base category is not matched, clarifies PCB

PCB is now the sole authority for deciding player categories, with chairman Ramiz Raja directly involved in the process, ESPNCricinfo has reported. On demotion requests – if any – all franchises will be given an opportunity to meet the players’ base category.

The PCB said in a statement, “If the player’s base category is not matched, the player may be relegated to a category below his base category.”

Under-23 players cannot be classified as emerging for more than two seasons unless they have played nine or fewer matches in those two years, so both Zaman Khan and Syed Faridoun Mahmood, emerging players from Lahore Qalandars roster have their category retained, along with Mohammad Huraira and Mubasir Khan.

PSL 2023 slated to be played across four venues

Mohammad Haris, who was picked up in the silver category by Qalandars last season, has moved up to gold, as any player who has debuted for Pakistan is eligible to. The 2023 season, with Qalandars the defending champions, will start on February 9, and the final will take place on March 19.

Four venues – Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan – will be hosting the matches, a change from the previous two seasons, when Covid-19 forced the games to be played in just two centres, Lahore and Karachi.

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