Islamabad United has managed to secure the services of the highly sought-after right-arm pacer, Naseem Shah, for a whopping 45 million rupees ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.
The 20-year-old sensation was previously associated with the Quetta Gladiators but will now don the colors of Islamabad United in the upcoming season.
Sources privy to the matter said that Naseem Shah's immense fan following had attracted interest from multiple franchises, making the bidding war intense.
However, Islamabad United emerged victorious, displaying their commitment to strengthening their squad for the upcoming season.
Official announcement
The official announcement of player retentions for PSL 9 is slated for December 7, 2023. While decisions on budget and salary cap are still pending, franchises are gearing up to strategically retain up to eight players based on their category.
Last year's salary cap, set at 13 hundred thousand dollars per team, serves as a benchmark for this season.
However, the PSL is not without its challenges. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has presented two scheduling options to the franchises, one featuring four venues and the other with two.
The opening match, scheduled for February 18 between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, poses concerns due to anticipated severe cold weather and fog in Lahore. Some quarters have proposed initiating the event in Karachi before moving to Punjab once weather conditions improve.
