PSL 2018: 5 highest earning cricketers in the tournament

The Pakistan Super League (PSL 2018) is a celebrated cricket league in the Asian country. The tournament has gone through turbulences owing to terrorist attacks and match-fixing scandals. While several players were suspended after they were found guilty of fixing games, the Final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore was marred by bomb-blasts after which several big names refused to stay in Pakistan.

However, the tournament weathered the storms and the third edition will commence on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The cash-rich league has been a witness to several big names gracing their presence. Meanwhile, they have also earned truckloads of amounts in the event. In our article, we take a look at five highest-earning cricketers in the tournament.

1. Shahid Afridi (Karachi Kings)

Shahid Afridi, being a crowd-puller, has been an eminent personality in the Pakistan Super League. He entered the draft of the tournament as a Platinum category player. He was the first player to be picked for $ 1,40,000 by the Peshawar Zalmi. Thereafter, he played a couple of seasons for them. However, injury ruled him out of the Final against the Quetta Gladiators in 2017.

He bruised his hand while attempting to take a catch and subsequently, missed the next game. Nevertheless, he left the team and joined the Karachi Kings for the upcoming season. The Pakistan all-rounder was swapped by the Zalmis as a part of a deal between Peshawar and Karachi to swap its players in the gold and silver categories.

2. Misbah-ul-Haq (Islamabad United)

Misbah-ul-Haq carved a reputation for being one of Pakistan’s most reliable cricketers over the years. He has also been an integral part of the Pakistan Super League ever since the inception of the tournament. The Mianwali born cricketer entered the 2016 PSL draft as a Platinum category player. Subsequently, he snapped was by the Islamabad United franchise for $ 1,40,000.

He has led the side with authority and will be the team’s captain in the third season as well. The United were the winners of the inaugural edition of the tournament under the leadership of Misbah. They also progressed to the top-four in the last season, however, bowed out following a defeat by Karachi Kings in the play-off stage.

3. Shane Watson (Islamabad United)

Shane Watson is deemed to be one of the most explosive all-rounders to the have played the game. The Queenslander was drafted in by the Islamabad United franchise for $ 1,40,000, being a Platinum category cricketer. He played an integral role in the United’s victorious campaign in 2016. However, he triggered an abdominal strain following which he was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

In 2017, the Aussie churned out some useful performances in all departments and guided the franchise to the playoffs. The cricketer is also serving as the ambassador the team and will be expected to play a crucial role for the Misbah-ul-Haq-led side in the upcoming edition of the T20 league.

4. Dwayne Bravo (Peshawar Zalmi)

Dwayne Bravo has been a sought-after cricketer in the limited-overs cricket, especially the T20 format. The Trinidadian has also plied his trade for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League. He was a Platinum category player and was drafted in by the franchise for $ 1,40,000 for the inaugural season of the prestigious cricket league.

However, he developed a hamstring injury in the Big Bash League. Subsequently, was ruled out of the second season of the PSL and Jason Roy replaced the Windies all-rounder. The franchise released him ahead of the upcoming season and he was bagged by the Peshawar Zalmi.

5. Shoaib Malik (Multan Sultans)

Shoaib Malik has been an integral element of Pakistan’s lineup across all formats of the game. He has also wielded his magic in the Pakistan Super League. He was bagged for $ 1,40,000 by the franchise as the Platinum category cricketer. The Sialkot cricketer led the side for the first edition of the league and guided them to the playoffs where they lost against the Islamabad United.

However, resigned midway from the 2017 edition of the tournament. The all-rounder cited his personal cricketing reasons for his stepdown from the leader’s role. However, he was picked by the Multan Sultans and was crowned as the leader of the team ahead of the third edition.