Pakistan Super League franchises have officially confirmed their retained players ahead of the 11th edition of the tournament, while newly introduced side Sialkot Stallionz grabbed headlines by securing Australian star Steven Smith as a direct overseas signing.
A total of 19 players were retained across the five designated categories ahead of the upcoming season. Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Peshawar Zalmi each retained the maximum four players, while Islamabad United opted for three. Multan Sultans, following a disappointing previous campaign, chose not to retain any players.
Among the most notable names in the top tier, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Hasan Ali were locked in under the Platinum category. The Diamond bracket features Abdullah Shafique, Abbas Afridi, Usman Tariq, and Sufiyan Muqeem, reflecting the franchises’ focus on emerging and impact performers.
The PSL will feature two new franchises this season, both of which are permitted to directly sign and retain four players from the available pool. These teams are required to finalize their selections before February 7, ahead of the league’s first-ever full player auction, scheduled later this month.
The biggest development came from Sialkot Stallionz, who confirmed the signing of Steve Smith for their debut season. The Australian batter joins the Stallionz as a direct overseas pick, a provision that allows each team to recruit one international player who did not appear in the previous PSL edition.
Smith arrives in Pakistan on the back of a highly productive Big Bash League campaign, where he played a key role in Sydney Sixers’ run to the final. He amassed 299 runs in six innings, striking the ball at an impressive rate while also registering a century and multiple half-centuries. Despite his form, Smith was overlooked for Australia’s T20 World Cup squad and went unsold at the most recent IPL auction.
The 36-year-old will reunite with former Australia captain Tim Paine, who has been appointed head coach of the Stallionz. The franchise, owned by Pakistani-Australian businessman Hamza Majeed, is one of the most heavily invested teams in the league, committing the highest annual franchise fee among all participants.
Smith’s participation in the PSL marks his first appearance in the tournament and adds significant star power to the competition. However, his availability for the PSL will rule him out as a potential replacement signing in the IPL during the same window.
With the new season set to begin on March 26 and the auction scheduled for February 11, attention now turns to how teams will finalize their squads in what promises to be a landmark edition of the Pakistan Super League.
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