Budgets, player categories and quotas: How the Pakistan Super League draft works

Kevin Pietersen is among Platinum-rated players drafted in the Pakistan Super League. Ian Kington / AFP

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has chosen to use a draft system instead of the player auction method that is generally preferred among Twenty20 leagues.

The reason, the league said in a statement, was to ensure “equal competition and financial viability for all stakeholders. Teams will be paying a fixed price for each buy instead of engaging in a bidding war”.

An earlier ballot had already decided that Islamabad would make the first pick, followed by Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and Lahore.

For the subsequent rounds, the draft has been set in such a manner that each pick carries weight, which culminates in parity.

Osman Samiuddin: Pakistan Super League — 'the biggest thing that has hit Pakistan cricket'

Gallery: Shoaib Malik and the pick-by-pick stars of the Pakistan Super League

Each team picks three players each from Platinum, Diamond and Gold categories, with a minimum of four Pakistan and four foreign players. Five players are selected from the Silver category and two from the Emerging category. Each squad, at minimum, will consist of 16 players, and 20 at most.

The draft contains 20 rounds and 100 picks total.

Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi were among the big names selected by franchises Monday, but there were several star players still left in the pool for Tuesday’s draft.

No side picked Kumar Sangakkara, due possibly to his involvement in the Masters Champions League that will curtail his participation in the PSL. Lasith Malinga, a Twenty20 specialist, remains in the pool, as does Saeed Ajmal and a host of English players including Moeen Ali.

The total salary cap for a squad of 16 is US$985,000 (Dh3.6 million) and the total cap for a squad of 20 is $1.1m.

The 310 players are divided into the five categories according to their value in international cricket, descending from $140,000 for Platinum to $10,000 for Emerging.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport