The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators on Wednesday, confirmed that their head coach Shane Watson will be unavailable for the 10th edition of the marquee league.
The Gladiators, in a detailed statement, shared that Watson’s unavailability was due to the revised window of the league this year, a change made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to accommodate the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
“Quetta Gladiators head coach Shane Watson will not be able to continue as head coach with the franchise for the HBL PSL season 10 as the league’s window got changed which will be affecting his pre-signed long-term agreements,” the franchise said in a statement.
“Watson has been a very lucky charm for the franchise as the Gladiators won the PSL title when he came to Pakistan as a player while QG qualified for the play-off stage after wait of four long years as soon as Watson took charge of the team,” the statement added.
The Gladiators’ owner Nadeem Omair acknowledged the services of the former Australian all-rounder both as a player and the head coach and asserted that the franchise will forever be indebted to his contributions.
“Quetta Gladiators will always be indebted to Shane Watson for his outstanding contribution both as a player and head coach,” said Omar.
“The Gladiators are known throughout the world because of certain superstars who have represented our franchise and Shane is on top of that list,” he added.
The development came amid the reports that the 2019 champions will hand the coaching role to their former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who went unpicked in the PSL 10 player draft, held in Lahore on Monday.
Reports further claimed that Sarfaraz’s appointment as the Gladiators’ head coach is all but official, with the franchise expected to announce the decision soon.
Sarfaraz’s tenure with the Gladiators began with the inception of the league, and over the years, he became a key figure, leading them to their maiden and only PSL title in 2019.
During his time with the Gladiators, he played 86 matches and scored 1525 runs at an average of 29.32, including seven half-centuries.
However, the 2023 season saw Sarfaraz replaced by South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw as the captain, marking the end of his long leadership role with the franchise.