LAHORE: Pakistan Super League’s historic first-ever player auction held on Wednesday, delivering eight formidable squads brimming with international superstars, emerging talent, and record-breaking paydays.
With expansion franchises Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallionz joining the fray, PSL 2026 promises the most competitive season in tournament history.
Here are the complete final squads following auction proceedings, direct overseas signings, and strategic retentions, with all figures in Pakistani Rupees.
Saim Ayub’s Mega Retention
The Hyderabad franchise made the tournament’s biggest pre-auction statement by retaining Saim Ayub for a staggering PKR 12.6 crore — the highest retention fee in PSL history.
The 23-year-old left-handed sensation, tipped as Pakistan’s next batting great, will anchor a lineup bursting with firepower.
Marnus Labuschagne arrives as a direct overseas signing for PKR 5.88 crore, bringing his unorthodox brilliance and relentless competitiveness to the subcontinent.
The Australian No.3 provides Hyderabad with rock-solid stability at the top of the order.
At auction, Hyderabad snatched Mohammad Ali from Rawalpindi’s grasp with a last-minute PKR 2.15 crore bid, while Sri Lanka’s explosive wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera was secured for PKR 3.1 crore.
Muhammad Irfan Khan (PKR 2.9 crore) and Hassan Khan (PKR 1.85 crore) add domestic pedigree.
Australian tearaway Riley Meredith joins for PKR 4.2 crore, forming a fearsome pace partnership with Ottniel Baartman (PKR 1.1 crore). The return of Sharjeel Khan (PKR 60 lakh) adds veteran experience to a well-rounded unit.
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen — Final Squad
Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne, Mohammad Ali, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Ottniel Baartman, Hammad Azam, Riley Meredith, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Ali, Tayyab Arif.
Islamabad United: Faheem Ashraf Commands PKR 8.5 Crore in All-Rounder Splurge
Islamabad United secured the tournament’s second-highest bid, splurging PKR 8.5 crore on all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.
The match-winner, who famously sealed Pakistan’s T20 World Cup opener against the Netherlands in 2024, now commands a fee befitting his explosive pedigree.
New Zealand’s Devon Conway joined as a direct overseas signing for PKR 6.3 crore, providing assured run-scoring at the top.
Mark Chapman was acquired for PKR 7 crore after a fierce bidding war with Peshawar Zalmi, while Mohammad Wasim Jr (PKR 4.1 crore) strengthens the pace attack.
Shadab Khan remains United’s crown jewel, retained for PKR 7 crore. The franchise also secured veteran all-rounder Imad Wasim for PKR 2.2 crore and Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Haider Ali (PKR 1.5 crore). English quick Richard Gleeson (PKR 1.2 crore) and West Indies pace sensation Shamar Joseph (PKR 1.1 crore) add overseas firepower.
Islamabad United — Final Squad
Shadab Khan, Salman Irshad, Andries Gous, Devon Conway, Faheem Ashraf, Mehran Mumtaz, Max Bryant, Mark Chapman, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Mir Hamza Sajjad, Sameen Gul, Sameer Minhas, Shamar Joseph, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Dipendra Singh Airee.
Karachi Kings: Warner, Zampa, Moeen Headline Star-Studded Cast
No franchise assembled a more glittering galaxy of international talent than Karachi Kings. David Warner became Karachi’s marquee auction signing at PKR 7.9 crore after a tense duel with Peshawar Zalmi.
Pakistan’s white-ball captain Salman Ali Agha arrived for PKR 5.85 crore following an intense battle with Islamabad United.
Australian leg-spin wizard Adam Zampa commanded PKR 4.5 crore, while Moeen Ali joined as a direct overseas signing for PKR 6.44 crore. The England World Cup winner adds batting depth and canny off-spin to a dressing room already brimming with pedigree.
Azam Khan (PKR 3.25 crore), Mir Hamza (PKR 2.4 crore), and veteran West Indies dasher Johnson Charles (PKR 2 crore) provide domestic and overseas balance.
The return of raw pacer Ihsanullah (PKR 1.05 crore) — following his recovery from injury — adds intrigue to Karachi’s pace arsenal.
Karachi Kings — Final Squad
Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, David Warner, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shahid Aziz, Mir Hamza, Adam Zampa, Mohammad Hamza Sohail, Aqib Ilyas, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Johnson Charles, Muhammad Waseem, Ihsanullah.
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar, Rauf Reunited with Shaheen in Blockbuster Return
Lahore Qalandars fought tooth and nail to reclaim their core. Shaheen Shah Afridi was retained for PKR 7 crore, while the Qalandars splurged at auction to bring back Fakhar Zaman for PKR 7.95 crore — outlasting Peshawar Zalmi in a tense bid-off.
Haris Rauf returned for PKR 7.6 crore after Rawalpindi challenged, while Usama Mir (PKR 3.5 crore) and teenage pace sensation Ubaid Shah — younger brother of Naseem — arrived for PKR 2.7 crore.
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman joined as a direct overseas signing for PKR 6.44 crore, his cutters and variations perfectly suited to Lahore’s conditions.
Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka (PKR 75 lakh) and emerging left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie (PKR 1.1 crore) add international depth.
Lahore Qalandars — Final Squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Mustafizur Rahman, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Farooq, Dasun Shanaka, Parvez Hussain Emon, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Tayyab Tahir, Gudakesh Motie.
Rawalpindi: Naseem Shah Breaks Bank, Daryl Mitchell Joins Pace-Heavy Arsenal
Rawalpindi played the auction’s most calculated hand. They watched silently as Karachi Kings and Islamabad United traded blows for Naseem Shah, then pounced with an audacious PKR 8.65 crore bid. Karachi bowed out. The room erupted.
The 22-year-old pace sensation becomes PSL 11’s highest-paid player — a crown jewel acquisition that transforms Rawalpindi’s title credentials.
Undeterred, Rawalpindi plunged deep again for New Zealand World Cup hero Daryl Mitchell (PKR 8.05 crore).
Mohammad Amir, returning to Pakistan’s international fold after a four-year exile, secured a PKR 5.4 crore contract.
Veteran left-arm spinner Asif Afridi arrived for PKR 2.4 crore, while English dasher Laurie Evans (PKR 1.1 crore) adds firepower to the middle order.
Rawalpindi — Final Squad
Mohammad Rizwan, Sam Billings, Zaman Khan, Yasir Khan, Naseem Shah, Rishad Hossain, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Amir, Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Dian Forrester, Laurie Evans, Asif Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Fawad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Shahzaib Khan.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam Retained, Aaron Hardie Joins as Overseas Centrepiece
Peshawar Zalmi retained Babar Azam for PKR 7 crore, the former Pakistan captain remaining the franchise’s foundation stone. Sufiyan Muqeem (PKR 4.48 crore) and Abdul Samad (PKR 2.8 crore) provide spin and power-hitting depth.
Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie arrived as a direct overseas signing for PKR 6.3 crore, while Zalmi secured Michael Bracewell (PKR 4.2 crore) and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis (PKR 4.2 crore) in aggressive auction moves.
James Vince (PKR 3 crore) adds English elegance, while Iftikhar Ahmed (PKR 1.8 crore) returns to provide experienced middle-order muscle.
Teenage Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana (PKR 60 lakh) is a fascinating developmental signing.
Peshawar Zalmi — Final Squad
Babar Azam, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mirza Tahir Baig, Kashif Ali.
Quetta Gladiators: Khawaja Nafay Emerges as Franchise Future at PKR 6.5 Crore
Quetta Gladiators identified Khawaja Mohammad Nafay as their long-term investment and secured the promising batter for PKR 6.5 crore — a significant statement from a franchise in transition.
Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed was retained for PKR 7 crore, while Rilee Rossouw returned via auction for PKR 5.55 crore. Australian left-arm seamer Spencer Johnson joined as a direct overseas signing for PKR 5.6 crore.
Quetta’s late-auction aggression landed England all-rounder Tom Curran for PKR 4.2 crore and Australian wicketkeeper-batter Ben McDermott (PKR 1.1 crore).
Jahandad Khan (PKR 2.5 crore) and Arafat Minhas (PKR 1.1 crore) represent the youth movement.
Quetta Gladiators — Final Squad
Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Shamyl Hussain, Spencer Johnson, Rilee Rossouw, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Faisal Akram, Arafat Minhas, Jahandad Khan, Wasim Akram Jr, Khan Zaib, Bismillah Khan, Saqib Khan, Brett Hampton, Sam Harper, Bevon Jacobs, Saud Shakeel, Ben McDermott, Tom Curran.
Sialkot Stallionz: Steve Smith’s Historic PKR 14 Crore Deal Reshapes Overseas Market
The expansion franchise delivered the tournament’s defining moment, securing Steve Smith as a direct overseas signing for a staggering PKR 14 crore — the highest fee ever commanded by an overseas player in PSL history.
The former Australian captain brings unparalleled pedigree, tactical genius, and box-office appeal to the Stallionz. His presence single-handedly elevates Sialkot’s debut campaign from expansion project to genuine contender.
Sialkot retained Mohammad Nawaz (PKR 6.16 crore) before aggressive auction purchases. Sahibzada Farhan arrived for PKR 5.7 crore after outlasting Karachi Kings.
Australian duo Ashton Turner (PKR 4.2 crore) and Peter Siddle (PKR 2.5 crore) bring T20 intelligence, while South African wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was secured for PKR 2.2 crore.
Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe (PKR 2.3 crore) adds firepower, while Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood (PKR 65 lakh) provides local experience.
Sialkot Stallionz — Final Squad
Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Steve Smith, Sahibzada Farhan, Ashton Turner, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jahanzaib Sultan, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Philippe, Shan Masood, Momin Qamar, Muhammad Awais Zafar.
Auction Recap: By the Numbers
Category Detail
Highest Bid (Pakistan) Naseem Shah — PKR 8.65 crore (Rawalpindi)
Highest Bid (Overseas) Steve Smith — PKR 14 crore (Sialkot Stallionz)
Highest Retention Saim Ayub — PKR 12.6 crore (Hyderabad)
Total Players Sold 128
Overseas Players 41
Under-23 Players 34
The Road Ahead
With auction proceedings complete, franchises now finalise squad combinations ahead of the mandatory Under-23 player quota and overseas playing XI requirements.
PSL 2026 is scheduled from March 26 to May 3, with eight teams competing across Pakistan’s premier cricketing venues.
