The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday the renewal of categories for 89 local players ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, with five cricketers earning promotion to the prestigious Platinum category.

T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, and Abrar Ahmed now feature in the top tier. The PCB confirmed that each franchise can retain a maximum of four players, restricted to one per category.

Teams will finalize their squads during the first-ever PSL player auction scheduled for February 11, while registration for foreign players remains open until February 3.

Among the promoted players, Sahibzada Farhan climbed from Gold, while the others advanced from Diamond. Eleven players continue in the Diamond category, including three each from Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans. Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sufyan Moqim, and Mohammad Wasim Jr also moved up from Gold to Diamond.

The Gold category now includes 32 players spread across franchises. Several youngsters earned recognition for their performances, with Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Mirza Mamoon Imtiaz, Mohammad Naeem, and Mohammad Azab promoted from Emerging to Silver. Hasan Nawaz advanced to Gold.

Franchises such as Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators have structured their squads strategically across categories to maintain balance and depth.

The PCB emphasized that the updated player categories reflect its commitment to nurturing talent and ensuring competitive parity. With the new auction format and a mix of experienced stars and emerging players, the next PSL season promises thrilling contests and fresh opportunities for Pakistan cricket.