Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Hyderabad has announced its retained and directly signed players ahead of the auction, aiming to build a competitive squad for its first season.
The newly added franchise shared the player list on its official social media accounts, welcoming Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Maaz Sadaqat, and Akif Javed to the team.
Saim Ayub, previously part of Peshawar Zalmi, was retained in the Platinum category for PKR 126 million, making him the most expensive Pakistani player in the league this season.
Usman Khan has been signed in the Diamond category for PKR 46.2 million, while Akif Javed (Gold) and Maaz Sadaqat (Emerging) joined the squad for PKR 19.6 million and 35 million respectively.
The franchise has also strengthened its batting lineup by directly signing Australian batting great Marnus Labuschagne, who will be making his debut in the PSL in the upcoming edition.
The new team is yet to announce its official name, with the grand launch event scheduled for tomorrow at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad to mark the introduction of the franchise.
Organizers confirmed the launch event will feature a live concert and fireworks display, with popular singer Saif Samejo set to perform and light up the celebrations for the fans.
As part of the launch activities, a rally will be organized from Karachi to Hyderabad, aimed at engaging cricket supporters and promoting excitement about the franchise across the Sindh region.