Tom Banton leads way among English players signed during PSL draft

Banton was selected in the platinum category – the highest price bracket – by Quetta Gladiators, having played for Peshawar Zalmi in 2020

Tom Banton led the way as several English players were picked up at the Pakistan Super League player draft on Sunday.

Banton was selected in the platinum category – the highest price bracket – by Quetta Gladiators, having played for Peshawar Zalmi in 2020. He will be one of 15 English players involved in the competition, which is due to begin next month.

Although he struggled on his PSL debut, he was the first pick for his new franchise, who could pair him at the top of the innings with Chris Gayle, who was signed to fill the experienced void left by Shane Watson’s retirement.

Alex Hales had already been traded ahead of the draft, swapping Karachi Kings for Islamabad United, while James Vince and Liam Livingstone were on Multan Sultans’ and Peshawar Zalmi’s retained lists.

South Africans Dale Steyn and David Miller will feature for Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, and Multan Sultans picked up Chris Lynn as their first choice; he struck a hundred against them last year for Lahore Qalandars.

Hales will be joined at Islamabad by compatriots Lewis Gregory, Phil Salt, Reece Topley and Chris Jordan, all of whom were signed during the draft.

^{Chris Gayle has been drafted by Quetta Gladiators}

Nottinghamshire batsman Joe Clarke has earned his maiden PSL deal; he joins Karachi Kings, who are captained by Imad Wasim, a T20 Blast teammate at Trent Bridge. So, too, is Australian allrounder Dan Christian, who was also signed by the reigning champions.

Afghanistan off-spinner Mohammad Nabi was also snapped up – one of five Afghans signed up, along with Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Qais Ahmad. Khan, the ICC’s T20I player of the decade, was Lahore Qalandars’ first pick.

2021 PSL squads list

He will be joined by Samit Patel, who was re-signed by Lahore, for whom he impressed last year. where Tom Abell and Joe Denly will also be teammates.

Saqib Mahmood returns to Peshawar Zalmi, where he played during the playoff phase last season, with Ravi Bopara joining the franchise after playing in 2020 for Multan Sultans. Multan have re-signed Adam Lyth, who also took part in the playoffs.