Lahore, February 11, 2026: The first-ever player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was held in Lahore on Wednesday, marking a historic shift from the previous draft system to an auction-based model. The fast bowler Naseem Shah became the most expensive player of the auction, being sold to Rawalpindi for Rs86.5 million.
The auction saw eight franchises—including two new entrants, Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallionz—bid for top domestic and international talent. Major players such as Fakhar Zaman, David Warner, Muhammad Amir, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan were among the high-profile signings.
Highlights by teams
Islamabad United:
- Faheem Ashraf was secured for Rs85 million.
- Mark Chapman for Rs70 million, Mohammad Waseem Jr for Rs41 million, Sameer Minhas for Rs19 million, and Imad Wasim for Rs22 million.
- Other key players include Haider Ali (Rs15m), Mohammad Hasnain (Rs7.75m), and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee (Rs6m).
Karachi Kings:
- Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha fetched Rs58.5 million.
- Australian all-rounder Adam Zampa (Rs45m) and David Warner (Rs79m) were also signed.
- Azam Khan was acquired for Rs32.5m, while Shahid Aziz joined at Rs9.25m.
Lahore Qalandars:
- Retained Haris Rauf (Rs76m) and Fakhar Zaman (Rs79.5m).
- Other acquisitions included Usama Mir (Rs35m), Ubaid Shah (Rs27m), Dasun Shanaka (Rs7.5m), and Bangladeshi opener Parvez Hossain Emon (Rs6m).
Sialkot Stallionz:
- Key signings include Sahibzada Farhan (Rs57m), Australia’s Ashton Turner (Rs42m), Peter Siddle (Rs25m), and spinner Tabrez Shamsi (Rs22m).
- Other squad members include Steve Smith, Muhammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, and Saad Masood.
Quetta Gladiators:
- Top acquisition Khawaja Mohammad Nafay at Rs65m, Faisal Akram (Rs12.5m), and all-rounder Tom Curran (Rs42m).
- Other signings include Bismillah Khan, Brett Hampton, Bevon Jacobs, and Saud Shakeel (Rs6.5m).
Rawalpindi:
- Naseem Shah became the highest bid at Rs86.5m.
- New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell (Rs80.5m) and Bangladesh spinner Rishaad Hossain (Rs30m) were added.
- Muhammad Amir joined for Rs54m, while Laurie Evans (Rs11m) and Asif Afridi (Rs24m) were other notable buys.
Peshawar Zalmi:
- Aaron Hardie (Rs63m), James Vince (Rs30m), Michael Bracewell and Kusal Mendis (Rs42m each) were major signings.
- Other acquisitions include Aamir Jamal (Rs19m), Khalid Usman (Rs6m), and Iftikhar Ahmed (Rs18m).
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen:
- Newly introduced franchise secured Mohammad Ali (Rs21.5m), Riley Meredith (Rs42m), Hassan Khan (Rs18.5m), and Shayan Jahangir.
- Base price acquisitions included Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, and Saad Ali.
Notable unsold players
Several high-profile players went unsold despite being listed, including Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz, England’s David Willey, Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal, Chris Jordan, and Bangladesh legend Shakib Al Hasan.
PSL CEO Salman Naseer addressed the audience, acknowledging the challenges faced in transitioning to an auction system and lauding the efforts of PCB and PSL teams in preparing for the upcoming season.
The 11th edition of PSL is scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 3, 2026, with eight franchises competing for the title, including the two new teams, Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallionz.
This auction marks a major step in professionalizing the PSL player market, with franchises aggressively investing in top domestic and international talent, setting the stage for one of the most competitive seasons yet.
