LAHORE, Pakistan, CMC – Twenty20 superstar Chris Gayle, West Indies Test and one-day captain Jason Holder and much sought-after all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, were among eight West Indian players gobbled up by franchises on the opening day of the Pakistan Super League draft yesterday.
The PSL, which will be played in United Arab Emirates, will launch its inaugural season from February 4-23 next year.
Left-hander Gayle was the first pick for Lahore Qalandars and will play alongside Bravo who was snapped up in the Platinum first round.
Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Kevon Cooper will also play for Qalanders after being picked up in the Gold third round.
For Gayle and Bravo, it will be the second time they will be playing together following their current stint with Melbourne Renegades in the ongoing Australia Big Bash League.
Holder, meanwhile, was chosen by Quetta Gladiators in the Diamond second round, as the franchise also picked up England star Kevin Pietersen as their number one selection.
The 24-year-old Holder has not campaigned extensively on the global Twenty20 circuit though he has had single seasons for Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
He is currently leading West Indies on a three-Test tour of Australia.
All-rounder Andre Russell, who is now a limited overs specialist, was a first round draft pick for Islamabad United while leg-spinner Samuel Badree was a second round choice for the same franchise.
Opener Lendl Simmons, meanwhile, will turn out for Karachi Kings after being snapped up in the second round while current Windies T20 skipper Darren Sammy was a first round choice for Peshawar Zalmi.
England’s Chris Jordan, who was born in Barbados and represented the country in first class cricket, will play alongside Sammy.
