PSL 10: Saud Shakeel likely to lead Quetta Gladiators

Quetta Gladiators' middle-order batter Saud Shakeel is likely to take on the role of captain for the upcoming 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The decision to appoint Shakeel as captain comes as the Gladiators look to strengthen their squad for the 2025 season, with the batter set to open the innings. 

According to reliable sources, the Gladiators have decided to appoint the 29-year-old as captain, aiming to build a dynamic combination alongside Moin Khan.

In an additional development, the Gladiators also confirmed last Wednesday that their current head coach, Shane Watson, will not be available for PSL 10.

The franchise explained that Watson's unavailability was due to the rescheduling of the league's window, a decision made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to accommodate the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

A statement from the franchise read, "Quetta Gladiators' head coach Shane Watson will not be able to continue as head coach for the HBL PSL season 10 due to the change in the league’s window, which affects his pre-signed long-term agreements."

“Watson has been a lucky charm for the franchise as the Gladiators won the PSL title when he came to Pakistan as a player, and QG qualified for the playoffs after a four-year gap when Watson took charge of the team,” the statement added.

The Gladiators won the PSL title when he joined as a player, and the team qualified for the playoffs after a four-year gap when Watson became head coach.

In light of Watson’s absence, it is reported that Moin Khan will step in as head coach for PSL 10. 

Furthermore, there are discussions about Sarfaraz Ahmed potentially being given the responsibility of Director of Cricket for the Gladiators. 

Sarfaraz, who is mentoring during the Champions Cup, may take on this new role, although during this period, he will not receive a salary from the PCB.

His connection with the Gladiators dates back to the league's inception, and he has been a key figure in their success, leading the team to their sole PSL title in 2019.

During his time as captain, Sarfaraz played 86 matches, scoring 1,525 runs at an average of 29.32, including seven half-centuries. However, his leadership tenure ended in 2023 when he was replaced by South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw.

Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel's performances in the 2023 edition of the PSL have made him a strong contender for the captaincy. 

He scored 323 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 141.66, including two fifties, and finished as the seventh-highest run-scorer of the tournament.