PSL 10 Draft Rules: Everything You Need To Know

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) draft is one of the most exciting moments for cricket fans. Every year, teams carefully select players to build the best squad possible. The PSL 10 Draft is scheduled for January 11, and fans are eager to see who their favorite teams will pick.

How the PSL Draft Works

Many fans wonder why a team chooses one player over another. The truth is, every pick follows a strict strategy and set of rules. In this guide, we’ll explain the entire draft process in a simple way.

What We’ll Cover:

How many players each team can pick.
What different player categories mean.
New features introduced this year.
How teams trade players.
How a player’s category can be downgraded.
How teams plan and execute successful drafts.
How mid-season trades work.
The role of talent hunt programs.
Details about the mid-season trading window.

Pre-Draft Preparations

Before the draft, teams go through an important preparation phase. Here’s what happens:

Local Player List Announcement

Players who didn’t play in the previous PSL season are announced.

Player Categorization

The Chief Selector places local players into different categories (e.g., Emerging, Talent Hunt).

Category Review

Teams and PSL management review player performances.
Some players move up or down in categories.

Foreign Player Registration

International players register in categories like Platinum and Diamond.
The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) approves the list.
A random software decides the draft order for fairness.

Retention & Trade Window

Teams can keep up to 8 players from their previous squad.
They can also trade players with other teams.

Draft Day – The Big Event

After all the preparations, the draft takes place. Teams pick players based on the draft order and their game plan.

PSL Draft Rules – Player Categories

Each team starts with 8 retained players and can pick up to 18 players. The draft includes five main categories:

Platinum Category

Each team must pick 3 players (at least 1 local and 1 foreign).
If a team already retained 2 Platinum players, they can pick only 1 more.

Diamond Category

Works the same as Platinum in terms of rules.

Gold Category

3 players are picked.
By the end of this round, each team must have at least 3 foreign players.

Silver Category

5 players are picked, bringing the squad total to 14.
Teams can’t pick more players than those retained from earlier rounds.

Emerging Category

Each team selects 2 young players to develop future stars.

Supplementary Category

Teams can pick 0, 1, or 2 extra players.
If they pick 2, one must be local.
If they pick an Emerging player, they can have up to 3 total Emerging players.

Special Rules for Foreign Players

Each team must have 5 to 6 foreign players.
At least 3, but no more than 4, can play in a match.

Special Draft Features

Wild Card Pick

A team can upgrade a player from a lower category.
Each team gets 1 Wild Card Pick.

Right to Match (RTM)

If a team releases a player, another team may pick them.
The original team can match the offer and keep the player.

PSL Player Trades

Teams can trade players or draft picks before and during the season. There are 11 types of trades, involving different combinations of players and money.

Trade Budget

The maximum trade budget is 12 million PKR.

Mid-Season Trade Window

Opens after each team plays 4 matches.
Only unused players can be traded.
Each team can make up to 2 trades.
The squad size must stay the same.

Emerging Category Rules

Players must be part of Pakistan’s domestic circuit.
Must be under 23 years old by January 1 of the PSL year.
Players who have played for Pakistan’s national team are not eligible.

Emerging Player Nomination

Each team can nominate up to 3 players.
If two teams nominate the same player, the player chooses where to go.
If they reject both, they re-enter the draft.

Talent Hunt Discovery Program

Players from talent hunt programs (like Lahore Qalandars’ Academy) can enter.
Even players over 23 can qualify if chosen through this route.

How Teams Downgrade Player Categories

Sometimes teams lower a player’s category for budget reasons. Here’s how:

Relegation Request

The player must agree to be downgraded.
The team submits a request to the PCB.
Other teams vote on the downgrade.
If all teams agree, the downgrade happens.
If one team objects, the downgrade is rejected.
If multiple teams object, a silent bid happens, and the highest bid wins.

Ambassador Role

Teams can appoint a retained player as an ambassador.
Their salary is deducted from the draft budget.

Mentor Role

Only one mentor per team is allowed.
Their salary does not count in the draft budget.
A mentor must meet one of these criteria:
- Former national team captain.
- Retired from international cricket.
- Played 100+ international matches.

Final Thoughts

The PSL draft is a carefully planned event that shapes each team’s future. From selecting the best players to making smart trades, teams follow strict rules to build their squads. With PSL 10 just around the corner, fans are eager to see how the draft unfolds and which players will shine in the upcoming season!