LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) entered a new era with its first-ever player auction for Season 11, replacing the traditional draft system with a competitive bidding format.
The landmark event at Lahore’s Expo Centre saw Australian batting maestro Steve Smith emerge as the most expensive signing, joining Sialkot Stallionz for a staggering Rs140 million (14 crore). Sialkot Stallionz secured the Australian superstar for a staggering amount, headlining the league’s first-ever players’ auction and signaling the dawn of a new commercial and competitive chapter for the PSL.
With 880 players registered and eight franchises building squads from scratch under revised retention rules, the atmosphere reflected both financial muscle and tactical calculation ahead of the March 26 tournament start. While Smith dominated headlines, the auction was equally defined by fierce bidding wars for leading Pakistani and overseas stars. Rawalpindi made a powerful statement by signing Naseem Shah for Rs8.65 crore, reinforcing their pace arsenal, while New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell drew Rs8.05 crore before being later released in strategic adjustments. Karachi Kings secured David Warner for Rs7.9 crore, Lahore Qalandars brought back Haris Rauf for Rs7.6 crore, and Fakhar Zaman commanded Rs7.95 crore in one of the evening’s intense battles.
Islamabad United flexed financial intent by acquiring Faheem Ashraf for Rs8.5 crore and Mark Chapman for Rs7 crore, while Quetta Gladiators invested Rs6.5 crore in emerging top-order batter Khawaja Nafay, underlining their emphasis on explosive domestic talent.
However, the auction’s dramatic edge was amplified by an unexpectedly long list of prominent international players who went unsold. Among them were Paul Stirling, Mark Adair, Dwaine Pretorius, Sheldon Cottrell, Blessing Muzarabani, Tom Moores, Richard Ngarava, George Garton, Binura Fernando, Harry Tector and Taskin Ahmed. Their absence from final rosters highlighted franchises’ growing preference for role-specific signings over reputational value.
In a significant structural shift, Multan Sultans entered the new season under fresh ownership and a new identity, rebranding as Rawalpindi. The franchise built a squad around retained captain Mohammad Rizwan while aggressively strengthening its bowling core, signaling intent to redefine league power dynamics.
The PSL management allowed franchises to retain only four players — down from eight in previous seasons — to create competitive parity, particularly benefiting newer teams. For the first time, direct overseas signings were also permitted before the auction, leading to high-profile additions such as Steve Smith (Sialkot Stallionz), Devon Conway (Islamabad United), Moeen Ali (Karachi Kings), Mustafizur Rahman (Lahore Qalandars), Aaron Hardie (Peshawar Zalmi), Spencer Johnson (Quetta Gladiators), and Marnus Labuschagne (Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen).
The financial framework followed defined base categories, with Platinum players starting at Rs4.2 crore, Diamond at Rs2.2 crore, Gold at Rs1.1 crore, and Silver/Emerging at Rs60 lac, while incremental bidding rules ensured structured escalation during intense contests.
Sialkot Stallionz assembled one of the most talked-about squads of the evening. Beyond Smith’s record-breaking signing, the franchise retained Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, and Saad Masood while adding Sahibzada Farhan, Ashton Turner, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Josh Philippe to shape a distinctly Australian-influenced setup.
Head coach Tim Paine expressed excitement over blending Australian discipline with the PSL’s aggressive brand of cricket, describing Smith as a “world-class batter whose experience will anchor the side.” Bowling coach Sohail Tanvir emphasized the inclusion of young pacers and variation-heavy options to strengthen their attack.
Karachi Kings combined star power with spin depth, adding Adam Zampa alongside Warner and Moeen Ali. Lahore Qalandars maintained their pace-centric identity with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf while reinforcing spin options. Islamabad United focused on multi-dimensional all-round strength, whereas Peshawar Zalmi retained Babar Azam and built around a balanced middle order supported by international all-rounders.
Quetta Gladiators targeted aggressive top-order reinforcements and variety in their bowling attack, while Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen invested in youth and dynamic batting combinations led by Saim Ayub and Marnus Labuschagne.
Franchises were required to include at least two local U23 uncapped players and adhere to foreign-player limits based on squad size, ensuring both development pathways and competitive balance remained central to league planning. The accelerated round added late excitement, with franchises snapping up value picks such as Abdul Subhan, Sameen Gul, Mir Hamza Sajjad, and Wasim Akram Jr. Competitive bidding elevated Sameer Minhas’ value significantly beyond base price, reflecting franchises’ willingness to invest in emerging potential.
Yet, as swiftly as names were celebrated, several high-value signings were strategically released during roster adjustments, underscoring the tactical recalibration that defines auction-based leagues. The PSL’s transition from draft to auction marks more than a procedural change, it reflects the league’s maturity into a commercially aggressive and strategically layered competition. The visibility of live bidding, freedom of direct signings and reduced retention model have collectively intensified competition among franchises.
With marquee international stars, record-breaking domestic investments and surprising omissions shaping the narrative, Season 11 promises heightened intrigue both on and off the field. As squads now finalise combinations ahead of the March 26 kickoff, one message is clear: the PSL has entered a bold new era and it began with a Rs14 crore statement.
Final squads: (all values in Rs)
Hyderabad Houston Kings Direct signing - Marnus Labuschagne (5.88 crore) Retained - Saim Ayub (12.6 crore), Akif Javed (1.96 crore), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (4.62 crore) Bought – Mohammad Ali (2.15 crore), Kusal Perera (3.1 crore), Muhammad Irfan Khan (2.9 crore), Hassan Khan (1.85 crore), Shayan Jahangir (60 lac), Ottniel Baartman (1.1 crore), Hammad Azam (60 lac), Riley Meredith (4.2 crore), Sharjeel Khan (60 lac), Asif Mehmood (60 lac), Hunain Shah (60 lac), Rizwan Mehmood (60 lac), Saad Ali (60 lac), Tayyab Arif (60 lac)
Islamabad United Direct signing – Devon Conway (6.3 crore) Retained – Shadab Khan (7 crore), Salman Irshad (1.2 crore), Andries Gous (1.4 crore) Bought - Faheem Ashraf (8.5 crore), Mehran Mumtaz (1.2 crore), Max Bryant (1.9 crore), Mark Chapman (7 crore), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (4.1 crore), Mir Hamza Sajjad (70 lac), Sameen Gul (60 lac), Sameer Minhas (1.9 crore), Shamar Joseph (1.1 crore), Imad Wasim (2.2 crore), Richard Gleeson (1.2 crore), Haider Ali (1.5 crore), Mohammad Hasnain (77.5 lac), Dipendra Singh Airee (60 lac)
Karachi Kings Direct Signing – Moeen Ali (6.44 crore) Retained – Hasan Ali (4.76 crore), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (3.08 crore), Khushdil Shah (3.36 crore), Saad Baig (60 lac) Bought – David Warner (7.9 crore), Azam Khan (3.25 crore), Salman Ali Agha (5.85 crore), Shahid Aziz (92.5 lac), Mir Hamza (2.4 crore), Adam Zampa (4.5 crore), Hamza Sohail (60 lac), Aqib Ilyas (60 lac), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (60 lac), Johnson Charles (2 crore), Muhammad Waseem (1.1 crore), Ihsanullah (1.05 crore), Rizwanullah (60 lac)
Lahore Qalandars Direct Signing – Mustafizur Rahman (6.44 crore) Retained – Shaheen Shah Afridi (7 crore), Abdullah Shafique (2.2 crore), Sikandar Raza (2.8 crore), Mohammad Naeem (70 lac) Bought – Haris Rauf (7.6 crore), Usama Mir (3.5 crore), Fakhar Zaman (7.95 crore), Ubaid Shah (2.7 crore), Mohammad Farooq (60 lac), Dasun Shanaka (75 lac), Parvez Hussain Emon (60 lac), Asif Ali (60 lac), Hussain Talat (77.5 lac), Tayyab Tahir (60 lac), Gudakesh Motie (1.1 crore)
Rawalpindi Direct Signing – None Retained – Mohammad Rizwan (5.6 crore), Sam Billings (3.08 crore), Zaman Khan (1.12 crore), Yasir Khan (60 lac) Bought – Naseem Shah (8.65 crore), Rishad Hossain (3 crore), Daryl Mitchell (8.05 crore), Mohammad Amir (5.4 crore), Abdullah Fazal (67.5 lac), Amad Butt (80 lac), Dian Forrestor (60 lac), Laurie Evans (1.1 crore), Asif Afridi (2.4 crore), Kamran Ghulam (65 lac), Fawad Ali (60 lac), Mohammad Amir Khan (60 lac), Shahzaib Khan (60 lac)
Peshawar Zalmi Direct Signing – Aaron Hardie (6.3 crore) Retained – Babar Azam (7 crore), Sufyan Moqim (4.48 crore), Abdul Samad (2.8 crore), Ali Raza (1.96 crore) Bought – Aamir Jamal (1.90 crore), Khuram Shahzad (2.7 crore), Mohammad Haris (2.2 crore), Khalid Usman (60 lac), Abdul Subhan (62.5 lac), James Vince (3 crore), Michael Bracewell (4.2 crore), Kusal Mendis (4.2 crore), Iftikhar Ahmed (1.8 crore), Nahid Rana (60 lac), Mirza Tahir Baig (60 lac), Kashif Ali (60 lac)
Quetta Gladiators Direct Signing – Spencer Johnson (5.6 crore) Retained – Abrar Ahmed (7 crore), Usman Tariq (5.6 crore), Hasan Nawaz (3.92 crore), Shamyl Hussain (84 lac) Bought – Rilee Rossouw (5.55 crore), Faisal Akram (1.25 crore), Arafat Minhas (1.1 crore), Jahandad Khan (2.5 crore), Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (6.5 crore), Wasim Akram Jnr (77.5 lac), Khan Zaib (60 lac), Bismillah Khan (60 lac), Saqib Khan (60 lac), Brett Hampton (60 lac), Sam Harper (60 lac), Bevon Jacobs (60 lac), Saud Shakeel (65 lac), Ben McDermott (1.1 crore), Tom Curran (4.2 crore)
Sialkot Stallionz Direct Signing – Steve Smith (14 crore) Retained – Mohammad Nawaz (6.16 crore), Mohammad Salman Mirza (3.92 crore), Ahmed Daniyal (2.24 crore), Saad Masood (84 lac) Bought – Jahanzaib Sultan (60 lac), Sahibzada Farhan (5.70 crore), Ashton Turner (4.2 crore), Peter Siddle (2.5 crore), Tabraiz Shamsi (2.2 crore), Lachlan Shaw (60 lac), Delano Potgieter (60 lac), Josh Phillippe (2.3 crore), Shan Masood (65 lac), Momin Qamar (1.075 crore), Muhammad Awais Zafar (60 lac)
