Former Australia opener Shane Watson has been confirmed for the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after being included as a Platinum category pick for the upcoming players’ draft.

The 38-year-old has featured in all four previous editions of the PSL and was key to Quetta Gladiators landing a maiden title in 2019. The veteran was the leading run-scorer in the 2019 edition after registering 430 runs in 12 innings at an average of 43.

Overall in PSL history, Watson is the second highest run-scorer with 1,114 runs under his belt and is only behind veteran wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (1,286 runs).

Joining Watson in the Platinum category for the draft are West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran and New Zealand T20 veteran Mitchell McClenaghan. The players’ draft for the fifth edition is set to be held at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on December 6.

For the first time in its history, the entire edition of the PSL is set to be held on Pakistan soil. Watson, who travelled to Pakistan for the closing stages of the tournament last year, had expressed his wish to return to the country.

“I can’t wait to come back to Pakistan and play in season five. I had an amazing experience in Karachi during the last HBL PSL,” the Aussie had told PSL’s official website earlier this year.

“To be able to connect with the cricket-loving fans in Pakistan and experience Quetta Gladiators winning their first PSL was an amazing experience and one of the highlights of my career.”