Australian batting maestro Steve Smith has been signed by newcomers Sialkot Stallionz ahead of the PSL’s 11th season, as the tournament transitions to a new auction model.
The retention phase has resulted in 19 players retained across the five existing franchises, across five categories: Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Emerging.
Pakistan’s biggest stars feature prominently in the Platinum tier, with Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Hasan Ali commanding the highest retention status.
Smith’s Recent Form and PSL Move
The 36-year-old, who enjoyed a stellar Big Bash League campaign with Sydney Sixers, was secured as a ‘direct signing’ – a provision allowing teams to recruit one overseas player who didn’t feature in the previous PSL edition.
Smith’s recent form saw him amass 299 runs from just six innings, though it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. His PSL participation will make him unavailable for IPL replacement duties after going unsold in last year’s auction.
Complete PSL Retentions List
Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, and Karachi Kings have each retained four players, while Islamabad United opted for three. In a surprising move, Multan Sultans chose to release their entire squad, entering the auction with a clean slate after failing to reach the playoffs last season.
Lahore Qalandars: • Shaheen Afridi (Platinum) • Abdullah Shafique (Diamond) • Sikandar Raza (Gold) • Mohammad Naeem (Silver)
Quetta Gladiators: • Abrar Ahmed (Platinum) • Usman Tariq (Diamond) • Hasan Nawaz (Gold) • Shamyl Hussain (Emerging)
Islamabad United: • Shadab Khan (Platinum) • Salman Irshad (Gold) • Andries Gous (Silver)
Peshawar Zalmi: • Babar Azam (Platinum) • Sufyan Moqim (Diamond) • Abdul Samad (Gold) • Ali Raza (Emerging)
Karachi Kings: • Hasan Ali (Platinum) • Abbas Afridi (Diamond) • Khushdil Shah (Gold) • Saad Baig (Emerging)
Multan Sultans: • No retentions
What’s Next For PSL 2026
With two new franchises joining the competition, the PSL is set for its most competitive season yet. Both expansion teams have until February 7 to announce their retentions from the available player pool, setting the stage for what promises to be a blockbuster auction ahead of PSL 2026.
