The IPL and PSL are always closely compared on several parameters. Regarding earnings, the best players in the IPL can earn millions of dollars each year. For the PSL, it is quite different, with players divided into different payment categories, which we’ll dwell on a lot more later.
The latest season of the PSL brings some exciting new players to the spotlight. With drafts conducted for international and local players each year, some new top earners are in the league.
If you came across this post hoping to learn the highest earners in the PSL, you’ve come to the right one. We’ll go through some of the highest-paid players in the Pakistan Super League and give brief information on the league and its wage categories.
What is the Pakistani Super League (PSL)?
The Pakistan Cricket Board launched the PSL in 2015. The league began with just five clubs and was subsequently extended to six teams two years on. The current season, PSL 2022, ended with the last match on June 24, 2022.
The Pakistan Super League is a T20 league that takes place in February and March every year, and that started from the PSL first season. Like IPL, it comprises franchise-based teams and players from various nationalities. This year marks the seventh season of franchise-based cricket. The seventh season of the PSL has already begun this year, and the top players have signed several big contracts.
The tournament consists of 17 matches held across stadiums in Pakistan’s Lahore and Karachi areas. The finals, however, will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with all the previous matches executed in a double round-robin style with playoffs.
The six teams in the PSL include:
- Islamabad United?
- Lahore Qalandars
- Multan Sultans???????
- Karachi Kings???????????
- Peshawar Zalmi???????
- Quetta Gladiators
PSL: Contract Categories
Unlike in previous years, there is a large number of players who have signed big contracts with the PSL this year. PSL wages are split into various contact categories. The best players are given the Platinum contract ? the highest-earning category.
Every player allocated the Platinum contract has a specific wage structure based on that contracting category. The Pakistan Cricket Board provides five contact categories to PSL players. (Valium) They include:
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Platinum
This is the first and highest contract category. The cash allocation for the section is about 2,30,44,000 Pakistani Rupee ($170,000). Each PSL team can only choose three players from this category.
The Platinum contract category typically consists of all the top players worldwide. A good example is the top T20 batsman Babar Azam. About 18 players have been chosen in this contract structure for the Pakistan Super League 2023 draft.
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Diamond
This is the next category on the list, with 1,15,22,000 ($80,000) Pakistani Rupee allocated. Like the highest contract category, you can only pick three players from this category.
However, the Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans got an extra player in the PSL Miniature Draft. About 20 skillful players have been chosen in this category. Players like Shadab Khan and Muhammad Amir are good examples.
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Gold
In the third contract category is gold with 82,30,000 ($50,000) Pakistani Rupee. Still, three players can be taken from this category, but this year, the Lahore Qalandars got an additional player from the replacement round. Shahid Afridi and Alex Hales are great players in this contract category. This season, about 19 players are made up of foreigners, and local players make up this category.
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Silver
The fourth category is silver, with just 41,15,000 ($25,000) Pakistani Rupee. PSL teams are allowed to pick five players from this category. The silver category consists of mostly above-average or great players left out of the gold category. About 40 players make up this category this year, with just a handful of foreign players compared to the local recruits.
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Emerging
The last category is the least expensive, known as the emerging contract category at 16,46,000 ($7,500) Pakistani Rupee. Though last in the structure, teams can only sign two players fitting this category. This last division caters to the rising talent of Pakistan and offers them more opportunities. Just 16 players have been chosen in this final category.
The Highest Earners in the PSL
Here’s a list of the highest-paid players in the Pakistan Super League.
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Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard plays for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL and earns about 2,30,44,000 Pakistani Rupees. He is in the platinum contract category.
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Babar Azam
Babar Azam is a Karachi Kings player also in the platinum contract class. He earns 2,30,44,000 Pakistani Rupee.
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Dale Steyn
Playing for Islamabad United in the PSL, Dale Stern earns 2,30,44,000 Pakistani Rupees. Also, platinum class.
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Colin Ingram
Also, of Islamabad United, Colin Ingram earns 2,30,44,000 Pakistani Rupees.
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Muhammad Hafeez
As a key player for the Lahore Qalandars, Muhammad Hafeez is in the platinum contract category. He also earns a salary of 2,30,44,000 Pakistani Rupee.
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Mohammad Amir
Mohammad Amir is one of the best players in the PSL, playing for the Karachi Kings. That makes him part of the platinum class category earning 2,30,44,000 Pakistani Rupee.
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Imad Wasim
Last on the list is Imad Wasim, the proud captain of the Karachi Kings. Unlike the rest on the list, he’s in the diamond contract category. He earns 1,15,22,000 or $80,000.
Conclusion
There are several talented players in the Pakistan Super League and six exciting teams to choose from. However, the contract category issued by Pakistan Cricket Board gives salaries a limited range. Thus, it’s very easy to locate the highest earners in the league based on their contract categories.
