The Pakistan Super League (PSL) witnessed a historic first-ever player auction on Wednesday in Lahore, as all eight franchises finalized their squads for the upcoming 11th edition, scheduled from March 26 to May 3.
This auction replaced the traditional draft system, which had been in place for the first ten editions since 2016.
The change comes as the PSL expands with two new franchises, Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, while existing teams were allowed to retain only four players from their core squads, making team-building more competitive than ever.
Three-time champions Islamabad United opened the auction by securing all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for a massive Rs85 million after a fierce bidding battle. The franchise also added Mark Chapman, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Max Bryant, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Shamar Joseph, and Haider Ali to strengthen both their bowling and batting depth.
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Karachi Kings made headlines by spending Rs. 79 million to acquire David Warner.
They further reinforced their squad with Salman Ali Agha, Adam Zampa, Azam Khan, Johnson Charles, and Mir Hamza.
Lahore Qalandars focused on retaining their key players, re-signing Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman for Rs. 76 million and Rs. 79.5 million, respectively.
They also brought in Usama Mir, Ubaid Shah, and overseas talents Dasun Shanaka and Gudakesh Motie.
Rawalpindi made history by signing Naseem Shah for Rs. 86.5 million, making him the most expensive player of the auction.
They also secured Daryl Mitchell for Rs. 80.5 million, while adding Mohammad Amir, Rishad Hossain, and Asif Afridi to build a strong bowling attack.
READ: Shoaib Malik announces retirement ahead of PSL Season 11
Peshawar Zalmi strengthened their squad with Michael Bracewell and Kusal Mendis, each for Rs. 42 million.
They also added James Vince, Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal, and Khurram Shahzad to boost both their batting and pace options.
Quetta Gladiators invested in youth and overseas talent, bringing back Rilee Rossouw for Rs. 55.5 million and signing Tom Curran for Rs. 42 million.
Khawaja Nafay joined for Rs. 65 million, complemented by Jahandad Khan, Arafat Minhas, and Faisal Akram as the team reshaped their squad.
Newcomers Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen assembled a competitive squad in their first auction.
They signed Riley Meredith for Rs. 42 million and Kusal Perera for Rs. 31 million. Other key domestic signings included Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi, and Hassan Khan, while Sharjeel Khan and Ottniel Baartman added depth to their lineup.
Sialkot Stallionz, also making their debut, led their auction with the signing of Sahibzada Farhan for Rs. 57 million.
They further strengthened their batting with Ashton Turner and Josh Philippe, while Tabraiz Shamsi and Peter Siddle were brought in to lead the bowling attack.
The PSL 11 auction marked a new era for the league, introducing more competition, bigger bids, and expanded squads as teams prepare for an exciting season ahead.
While the auction saw some huge signings, several international and Pakistani stars remained unsold, highlighting the competitiveness of the squads.
Pakistan batters Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad’s names did not appear in the auction.
Several international stars including Keshav Maharaj and Jake Fraser-Mcgurk remained unsold.
Hong Kong Sixes and Asia Cup Rising Stars champion Mohammad Shahzad also went unsold in the auction.
Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, and Daryl Mitchell were the most expensive players in the auction.
Squads
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 lacs) and 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 lacs), Dasun Shanaka (PKR 75 lacs), Parvez Hossain Emon (PKR 60 lacs), Asif Ali (PKR 60 lacs), Tayyab Tahir (PKR 60 lacs) 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 lacs) and 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 lacs), Mir Hamza (PKR 2.4 crores), Adam Zampa (PKR 4.50 crores), Mohammad Hamza Sohail (PKR 62.50 lacs), Aqib Ilyas (PKR 60 lacs), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (PKR 90 lacs), Johnson Charles (PKR 2.00 crores), Muhammad Waseem (PKR 1.1 crores), Ihsanullah (PKR 1.05 crores) and Rizwanullah (PKR 60 lacs).
Islamabad United:
Shadab Khan (PKR 7.00 crores), Salman Irshad (PKR 1.2 crores), Andries Gous (PKR 1.4 crores) and 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 lacs), Sameer Minhas (PKR 1.90 crores), Sameen Gul (PKR 60 lacs), 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 lacs) and Dipendra Singh Airee (PKR 60 lacs).
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) and Aaron Hardie (Direct Signing), Aamir Jamal (PKR 1.9 crores), Mohammad Haris (PKR 2.20 crores), Khalid Usman (PKR 60 lacs), Abdul Subhan (PKR 62.5 lacs), James Vince (PKR 3.00 crore), Michael Bracewell (PKR 4.20 crores), Kusal Mendis (PKR 4.2 crores), Iftikhar Ahmed (PKR 1.80 crores), Nahid Rana (PKR 60 lacs) and Mirza Tahir Baig (PKR 60 lacs).
Quetta Gladiators:
Abrar Ahmed (PKR 7.00 crores), Usman Tariq (PKR 5.6 crores), Hasan Nawaz (PKR 3.92 crores), Shamyl Hussain (PKR 84 lacs) and Spencer Johnson (Direct Signing), Rilee Rossouw (PKR 5.55 crore), Faisal Akram (PKR 1.25 crores), Arafat Minhas (PKR 1.1 crore), Jahandad Khan (PKR 2.5 crore), Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (PKR 6.5 crore), Wasim Akram Jnr (PKR 77.5 lacs), Khan Zaib (PKR 60 lacs), Bismillah Khan (PKR 60 lacs), Saqib Khan (PKR 60 lacs), Brett Hampton (PKR 60 lacs), Sam Harper (PKR 60 lacs), Bevon Jacobs (PKR 60 lacs), Saud Shakeel (PKR 65 lacs), Ben McDermott (PKR 1.1 crores) and Tom Curran (PKR 4.2 crores).
Rawalpindi:
Mohammad Rizwan (PKR 5.6 crore), Sam Billings (PKR 3.08 crore), Zaman Khan (PKR 1.12 crore), Yasir Khan (PKR 60 lac), Naseem Shah (PKR 8.65 crore), Rishad Hossain (PKR 3 crore), Daryl Mitchell (PKR 8.05 crores), Mohammad Amir (PKR 5.4 crore), Abdullah Fazal (PKR 67.5 lac), Amad Butt (PKR 80 lacs), Dian Forrestor (PKR 60 lacs), Laurie Evans (PKR 1.1 crores), Asif Afridi (PKR 2.4 crore), Kamran Ghulam (PKR 65 lacs), Fawad Ali (PKR 60 lacs), Mohammad Amir Khan (PKR 60 lacs) and Shahzaib Khan (PKR 60 lacs).
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 lacs), Steve Smith (Direct Signing), Jahanzaib Sultan (PKR 60 lacs), 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 lacs), Delano Potgieter (PKR 60 lacs), Josh Phillippe (PKR 2.3 crores), Shan Masood (PKR 65 lacs), Momin Qamar (PKR 1.075 crors) and Muhammad Awais Zafar (PKR 60 lacs).
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Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen:
Saim Ayub (PKR 12.6 crores), Akif Javed (PKR 1.96 crores), PKR 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 lacs), Ottniel Baartman (PKR 1.1 crores), Hammad Azam (PKR 60 lacs), Riley Meredith (PKR 4.2 crores), Sharjeel Khan (PKR 60 lacs), Asif Mehmood (PKR 60 lacs), Hunain Shah (PKR 60 lacs), Rizwan Mehmood (PKR 60 lacs), Saad Ali (PKR 60 lacs) and Tayyab Arif (PKR 60 lacs).
