The Pakistan Super League stepped into a new era in Lahore as franchise owners traded paddles for the first time in league history, replacing the traditional draft system with a high-stakes auction. What unfolded at the Expo Centre was not just a reshuffle of squads, but a financial statement of intent from all eight franchises ahead of PSL 11, scheduled from March 26 to May 3.
At the start of the ceremony, PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer reflected on the transition while addressing the audience at the Lahore Expo Centre. “When the HBL PSL X ended, and the euphoria died down a little, and we looked ahead at the path in front of us, all commercial contracts had come to an end…monumental challenges lay ahead,” he said. He added that “The PSL and PCB teams have burned midnight oil day in and day out to get us where we are today,” acknowledging the operational shift that made the inaugural auction possible.
Record-breaking bids headline first PSL auction
The biggest moment of the evening belonged to Naseem Shah, who was snapped up by Rawalpindi for PKR 8.65 crore (approx. $309K), making him the most expensive signing of the historic auction.
Rawalpindi doubled down on international firepower, securing New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell for PKR 8.05 crore (approx. $288K) and Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain for PKR 3 crore (approx. $107K). Mohammad Amir also joined the side for PKR 5.4 crore (approx. $193K), reinforcing what appears to be one of the strongest bowling attacks on paper.
Islamabad United were equally aggressive. Faheem Ashraf fetched PKR 8.50 crore (approx. $304K), while Mark Chapman came in at PKR 7.00 crore (approx. $250K). Mohammad Wasim Jr secured PKR 4.10 crore (approx. $147K), highlighting the premium placed on pace and all-round versatility.
International stars dominate bidding wars
Karachi Kings made headlines with their overseas acquisitions, bringing back Australia’s David Warner for PKR 7.90 crore (approx. $283K). Fellow Australian Adam Zampa was secured for PKR 4.50 crore (approx. $161K), while West Indies batter Johnson Charles joined for PKR 2.00 crore (approx. $72K). Salman Ali Agha commanded PKR 5.85 crore (approx. $209K), adding leadership depth.
Lahore Qalandars focused on continuity and star power. Haris Rauf was reacquired for PKR 7.6 crore (approx. $272K), while Fakhar Zaman went for PKR 7.95 crore (approx. $284K). Overseas reinforcements included Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka at PKR 75 lakh (approx. $27K) and West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie at PKR 1.1 crore (approx. $39K).
Peshawar Zalmi invested heavily in middle-order stability. Michael Bracewell and Kusal Mendis were each bought for PKR 4.2 crore (approx. $150K), while England’s James Vince secured PKR 3.00 crore (approx. $107K). Aamir Jamal added domestic depth at PKR 1.9 crore (approx. $68K).
Quetta Gladiators mixed youth with experience. Khawaja Mohammad Nafay commanded PKR 6.5 crore (approx. $233K), while Tom Curran signed for PKR 4.2 crore (approx. $150K). Rilee Rossouw strengthened their batting for PKR 5.55 crore (approx. $199K).
Expansion franchises make strong statements
The 11th edition marks the first season with eight teams, following the inclusion of Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen.
Sialkot Stallionz made their presence felt by signing Sahibzada Farhan for PKR 5.70 crore (approx. $204K). Australia’s Ashton Turner joined for PKR 4.2 crore (approx. $150K), while Peter Siddle and Tabraiz Shamsi bolstered their bowling unit at PKR 2.5 crore (approx. $89K) and PKR 2.2 crore (approx. $79K) respectively. Josh Philippe added further depth at PKR 2.3 crore (approx. $82K).
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, meanwhile, combined marquee names with strategic regional picks. Riley Meredith was secured for PKR 4.2 crore (approx. $150K), Kusal Perera for PKR 3.1 crore (approx. $111K), and Mohammad Ali for PKR 2.15 crore (approx. $77K). Saim Ayub emerged as their most expensive acquisition at PKR 12.6 crore (approx. $451K).
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen build USA core
Reflecting their cross-border identity and connection to the Kingsmen brand, Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen also focused on USA-linked talent. Shayan Jahangir and Hammad Azam were signed at PKR 60 lakh each (approx. $21K), while Hassan Khan joined for PKR 1.85 crore (approx. $66K). All three players play for the Chicago Kingsmen in the USA, also owned by the new Hyderabad owner, Fawad Sarwar.
Notable unsold names
Despite the aggressive bidding, several prominent players went unsold. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, David Willey, William Sutherland, Dinesh Chandimal, Chris Jordan, and Shakib Al Hasan did not attract bids during the main rounds.
Complete squads for PSL 11
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (PKR 7.00 crores), Abdullah Shafique (PKR 2.20 crores), Sikandar Raza (PKR 2.80 crores), Mohammad Naeem (PKR 70 lakhs), Mustafizur Rahman (PKR 6.44 crores), Haris Rauf (PKR 7.6 crores), Usama Mir (PKR 3.5 crores), Fakhar Zaman (PKR 7.95 crores), Ubaid Shah (PKR 2.70 crores), Haseebullah Khan (PKR 1.1 crores), Mohammad Farooq (PKR 60 lakhs), Dasun Shanaka (PKR 75 lakhs), Parvez Hossain Emon (PKR 60 lakhs), Asif Ali (PKR 60 lakhs), Tayyab Tahir (PKR 60 lakhs) and Gudakesh Motie (PKR 1.1 crores).
Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali (PKR 4.76 crores), Abbas Afridi (PKR 3.08 crores), Khushdil Shah (PKR 3.36 crores), Saad Baig (PKR 60 lakhs), Moeen Ali (PKR 6.44 crores), David Warner (PKR 7.90 crores), Azam Khan (PKR 3.25 crores), Salman Ali Agha (PKR 5.85 crores), Shahid Aziz (PKR 92.5 lakhs), Mir Hamza (PKR 2.4 crores), Adam Zampa (PKR 4.50 crores), Mohammad Hamza Sohail (PKR 62.50 lakhs), Aqib Ilyas (PKR 60 lakhs), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (PKR 90 lakhs), Johnson Charles (PKR 2.00 crores), Muhammad Waseem (PKR 1.1 crores), Ihsanullah (PKR 1.05 crores) and Rizwanullah (PKR 60 lakhs).
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (PKR 7.00 crores), Salman Irshad (PKR 1.2 crores), Andries Gous (PKR 1.4 crores), Devon Conway (PKR 6.30 crores), Faheem Ashraf (PKR 8.50 crores), Mehran Mumtaz (PKR 1.2 crores), Max Bryant (PKR 1.95 crores), Khurram Shahzad (PKR 2.70 crores), Mark Chapman (PKR 7.00 crores), Mohammad Wasim Jr (PKR 4.10 crores), Mir Hamza Sajjad (PKR 70 lakhs), Sameer Minhas (PKR 1.90 crores), Sameen Gul (PKR 60 lakhs), Shamar Joseph (PKR 1.10 crores), Imad Wasim (PKR 2.2 crores), Richard Gleeson (PKR 1.1 crores), Haider Ali (PKR 1.50 crores), Mohammad Hasnain (PKR 77.5 lakhs) and Dipendra Singh Airee (PKR 60 lakhs).
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (PKR 7.00 crores), Sufiyan Muqeem (PKR 4.48 crores), Abdul Samad (PKR 2.8 crores), Ali Raza (PKR 1.96 crores), Aaron Hardie (Direct Signing), Aamir Jamal (PKR 1.9 crores), Mohammad Haris (PKR 2.20 crores), Khalid Usman (PKR 60 lakhs), Abdul Subhan (PKR 62.5 lakhs), James Vince (PKR 3.00 crores), Michael Bracewell (PKR 4.20 crores), Kusal Mendis (PKR 4.2 crores), Iftikhar Ahmed (PKR 1.80 crores), Nahid Rana (PKR 60 lakhs) and Mirza Tahir Baig (PKR 60 lakhs).
Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed (PKR 7.00 crores), Usman Tariq (PKR 5.6 crores), Hasan Nawaz (PKR 3.92 crores), Shamyl Hussain (PKR 84 lakhs), Spencer Johnson (Direct Signing), Rilee Rossouw (PKR 5.55 crores), Faisal Akram (PKR 1.25 crores), Arafat Minhas (PKR 1.1 crores), Jahandad Khan (PKR 2.5 crores), Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (PKR 6.5 crores), Wasim Akram Jnr (PKR 77.5 lakhs), Khan Zaib (PKR 60 lakhs), Bismillah Khan (PKR 60 lakhs), Saqib Khan (PKR 60 lakhs), Brett Hampton (PKR 60 lakhs), Sam Harper (PKR 60 lakhs), Bevon Jacobs (PKR 60 lakhs), Saud Shakeel (PKR 65 lakhs), Ben McDermott (PKR 1.1 crores) and Tom Curran (PKR 4.2 crores).
Rawalpindi: Mohammad Rizwan (PKR 5.6 crores), Sam Billings (PKR 3.08 crores), Zaman Khan (PKR 1.12 crores), Yasir Khan (PKR 60 lakhs), Naseem Shah (PKR 8.65 crores), Rishad Hossain (PKR 3 crores), Daryl Mitchell (PKR 8.05 crores), Mohammad Amir (PKR 5.4 crores), Abdullah Fazal (PKR 67.5 lakhs), Amad Butt (PKR 80 lakhs), Dian Forrestor (PKR 60 lakhs), Laurie Evans (PKR 1.1 crores), Asif Afridi (PKR 2.4 crores), Kamran Ghulam (PKR 65 lakhs), Fawad Ali (PKR 60 lakhs), Mohammad Amir Khan (PKR 60 lakhs) and Shahzaib Khan (PKR 60 lakhs).
Sialkot Stallionz: Mohammad Nawaz (PKR 6.16 crores), Mohammad Salman Mirza (PKR 3.92 crores), Ahmed Daniyal (PKR 2.24 crores), Saad Masood (PKR 84 lakhs), Steve Smith (Direct Signing), Jahanzaib Sultan (PKR 60 lakhs), Sahibzada Farhan (PKR 5.70 crores), Ashton Turner (PKR 4.2 crores), Peter Siddle (PKR 2.5 crores), Tabraiz Shamsi (PKR 2.2 crores), Lachlan Shaw (PKR 60 lakhs), Delano Potgieter (PKR 60 lakhs), Josh Phillippe (PKR 2.3 crores), Shan Masood (PKR 65 lakhs), Momin Qamar (PKR 1.075 crores) and Muhammad Awais Zafar (PKR 60 lakhs).
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen: Saim Ayub (PKR 12.6 crores), Akif Javed (PKR 1.96 crores), Maaz Sadaqat (PKR 3.5 crores), Marnus Labuschagne (Direct Signing), Usman Khan (PKR 4.62 crores), Mohammad Ali (PKR 2.15 crores), Kusal Perera (PKR 3.1 crores), Muhammad Irfan Khan (PKR 2.9 crores), Hassan Khan (PKR 1.85 crores), Shayan Jahangir (PKR 60 lakhs), Ottniel Baartman (PKR 1.1 crores), Hammad Azam (PKR 60 lakhs), Riley Meredith (PKR 4.2 crores), Sharjeel Khan (PKR 60 lakhs), Asif Mehmood (PKR 60 lakhs), Hunain Shah (PKR 60 lakhs), Rizwan Mehmood (PKR 60 lakhs), Saad Ali (PKR 60 lakhs) and Tayyab Arif (PKR 60 lakhs).
