On Monday, January 13, the Pakistan Cricket Board held the drafts for the Pakistan Super League Season 10. The tournament will run from April 8 to May 19. The event took place in historic Huzoori Bagh at Lahore Fort, and a live telecast of the event was organized where all the six PSL teams participated in finalizing their squads. This article explains the process of PSL draft, and how it differs from an IPL auction process because many people are confused with both the procedures. How does an IPL Auction work? The IPL auction is a very simple process. Players, both Indian and overseas cricketers, register themselves to participate. These players are divided into different sets based on their roles (e.g., batsman, bowler, all-rounder) and base prices. In the auction, an auctioneer announces the names of the players, and teams bid for them. 🚨 NEWS 🚨TATA IPL 2025 Player Auction List Announced!All the Details 🔽 #TATAIPLhttps://t.co/QcyvCnE0JM — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 15, 2024 The team that puts up the highest bid gets the player for that season. Certain other rules exist, like the Right to Match (RTM) card, by which the teams can reacquire their players under particular circumstances. The whole idea of the draft system is where teams are going to out-bid each other to get hold of the right players. Also Read | Revised Code of Conduct in the IPL in 2024 What Is the PSL Draft System? PSL conducts the draft system rather than an auction. Here, all teams pick in a specific order, without bidding. Categories and Pick Order There are six categories involved in the draft process: Platinum Diamond Gold Silver Emerging Supplementary The HBL PSL 10 Draft Pick Order has landed 🛬 The 19th and 20th picks will also be made during the #HBLPSLDraftWhich picks are you MOST excited for? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/nCP4G9JOKf — PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) December 23, 2024 In every team, a player is chosen from the aforementioned categories as determined by an order set by PCB. The order is usually given based on performances in the last season or franchise owners' opinions. A team picks a player in the Platinum category, followed by the next one in the list, and then another in the order continues until the list is full in all categories. Key Differences Between IPL Auctions and PSL Drafts Bidding vs. Selection IPL Auction: In the IPL auction, teams bid for players, and the highest bidder gets the player. PSL Draft: In the PSL draft, there is no bidding. Teams select players based on the draft order. Pre-Determined Salaries IPL Auction: In the IPL, players' salaries depend on the bid amount, which can exceed their base price. PSL Draft: The salaries in the PSL are already set according to the category. For instance, the highest is the Platinum category, followed by Diamond and then Gold. Selection Order IPL Auction: IPL auction will have all teams competing on a level playing field for every player. PSL Draft: PSL draft order, on the other hand, favors some teams based on past performances or even decisions by the PCB, which some people do not find fair. Also Read | IPL 2025: March 21 Start, 74 Matches, WPL in Feb-March Why Does PSL Use a Draft System? One significant reason the PSL employs the draft system is because of budgetary constraints. The IPL operates on a significant income basis, while PSL operates in a relatively constrained budget. Moreover, the process of drafting without the risk of overbidding will not add pressure to team finances. On the other hand, the draft approach also allows controlled team building One of the main criticisms of the draft system is the lack of transparency in deciding the pick order. The PCB may claim to have used performance-based criteria or even consulted with the franchise owners, but the exact methods are unclear. This has led to a lot of debates about fairness. Conclusion Although the PSL draft system and IPL auction share a common goal of reaping competitive teams, differences in terms of financial and operational matters yield varied results. Drafting retains its cost control cap on the PSL side, although it is considered as somewhat limited. Distinguishing between two leagues allows fans to dig deeper into exactly what makes each league special.