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Islamabad United has announced the salaries of players retained for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Notably, the franchise has retained Shadab Khan in the Platinum Category for a staggering 7 crore rupees. Salman Irshad has been retained in the Gold Category for 1.4 crore rupees, while Andrei Rusakov has been retained in the Silver Category for 1.2 crore rupees. Islamabad United had a purse of 45 crore rupees for the auction, out of which they have spent 9.6 crore rupees. The franchise is required to inform the PCB about the salaries of retained players, and an additional 5.5 crore rupees have been kept aside for direct signing.
In other cricket news, India has won the ICC Under-19 World Cup, and Pakistan is gearing up to take on the world’s top teams in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament is expected to be a thrilling affair, with several veteran players set to participate. Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has expressed his views on the ongoing cricket season, stating that it is a perfect time for the sport to flourish.
In the wake of the recent Islamabad bombing, the Sindh government has cancelled a cultural night music program to pay tribute to the victims. Pakistan’s cricket team is currently undergoing training sessions in Sri Lanka, with several players expressing their concerns about the pressure of playing in high-stakes matches. The team’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, has stated that the team is not feeling any pressure, and the Australian cricket board has also confirmed this.
In a related development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has received a letter from Sri Lanka Cricket, expressing concern over Pakistan’s decision to boycott the tournament. The letter states that the decision has affected Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, with several fans cancelling their hotel bookings due to the boycott.
The Islamabad bombing has also led to a wave of shock and grief across the country. The Inspector General of Islamabad has confirmed that the bomber had links to Afghanistan and had received training in terrorist activities. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has announced that it will be canceling all its official events in solidarity with the victims.
