In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand’s batting maestro Kane Williamson faced another setback in his T20 career as he went unsold in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 Draft conducted in Lahore on Monday. Despite his status as one of cricket’s modern greats, Williamson’s placement in the prestigious Platinum category failed to attract any bids, while ten other players from the same bracket found teams.
This disappointment follows his earlier setback in November 2024, when he also went unsold in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. The 34-year-old’s recent struggles in securing T20 franchise contracts highlight a growing trend in modern cricket, where his classical batting approach seems at odds with the format’s explosive demands.
Several factors appear to have influenced teams’ decisions. Williamson’s relatively conservative strike rate in T20s, coupled with recent injury concerns, has affected his marketability in franchise cricket. His limited T20I appearances for New Zealand – having missed all matches in 2023 and playing just two in the 2022-24 T20 World Cup cycle – have further impacted his standing.
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The situation mirrors a broader trend where established players, including Australian star David Warner, have turned to the PSL after being overlooked in the IPL auction. Despite his impressive international record of 2,575 runs in 93 T20Is at an average of 33.44, Williamson’s traditional batting style and fitness concerns seem to be working against him in the evolving landscape of T20 cricket.
