PSL 10: Saud Shakeel named Quetta Gladiators captain

Former champions Quetta Gladiators have appointed left-handed middle-order batter Saud Shakeel as their new captain ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, scheduled for April and May this year.

The announcement was made on the franchise’s social media platforms, accompanied by an animated image of Shakeel wearing a Gladiators vest and riding a horse, signaling his new role as leader.

The franchise described Shakeel’s appointment as the beginning of a new era for the team, with the post reading: “Introducing the new Commander of the Gladiators, Saud Shakeel."

Shakeel takes over from South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw, who led the Gladiators to their first PSL playoff appearance since their title-winning season in 2019.

Rossouw’s leadership helped the team reach the semifinals in the previous edition, but now Shakeel steps into the captaincy role following his impressive performance in the 2024 PSL.

In the 2024 season, Shakeel was one of the standout players for Quetta, amassing 323 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 141.66. 

Quetta Gladiators also announced their squad for PSL 10, which includes players like Finn Allen, Faheem Ashraf, and Mark Chapman in the platinum category, as well as Mohammad Amir and Rilee Rossouw in the diamond category. Other notable players include Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Saud Shakeel in the gold category.

The squad also features a mix of emerging and supplementary players, with Kyle Jamieson and Hasan Nawaz included in the emerging category.