LAHORE – West Indies and Karachi Kings superstar Chris Gayle has been shortlisted in the Platinum category for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) draft of players in contention to intern with Peshawar Zalmi’s wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, it has been reliably learnt.
Gayle, who struggled to his second meaningful score tally in the final playoff against Zalmi, is one of around 10 PSL batsmen who are vying to work on their ball striking with Akmal, who is a top run-getter and this season’s only centurion going into tonight’s final.
While the names are yet to be officially announced, we can confirm that the draft would include, among others, Qalandars skipper Brendon McCullum and last season’s most valuable player Ravi Bopara of Karachi Kings.
According to details, the player selected will spend a week with Akmal in the build-up to the third season of the PSL. The training would include work on hand-eye coordination, six-hitting drills and lessons on dealing with the pitches in the UAE.
PSL officials have suggested that while Akmal would be involved in the bidding process, the final call would remain with Zalmi. Sources inside the team management say that Zalmi’s own World Cup winners Marlon Samuels and skipper Darren Sammy are front runners to intern with their teammate Akmal.
Meanwhile, family insiders claim that Kamran’s brother Umar Akmal of the Lahore Qalandars might also be in contention once his tussle with local authorities over his fake number plate is sorted out.