PSL 11: First-ever players' auction underway in Lahore

879 local and foreign cricketers registered for marquee league's 11th edition

Web Desk

February 11, 2026

The first-ever player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is underway at Lahore’s Expo Centre on Wednesday, replacing the long-standing draft format used since the league’s inception in 2016.

PSL 11th edition will see two new teams – Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen – added to the roster to make it an eight-team tournament. Among other changes, the PSL has also moved on from the draft system to adopt an auction model.

Consequently, a total of 879 local and foreign cricketers registered for the historic auction, who have been slotted into five different categories – Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver and Emerging –by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

All eight teams will also be forming their squads by picking players of their choosing from the aforementioned categories, with a maximum purse amount set at $1.6 million.

However, contrary to the draft system, the auction model does not have a pick order, meaning the franchises can openly engage in a bidding war for a player.

Players picked by franchises

As the auction progresses, the players selected by franchises from certain categories, along with the amounts they were signed for, are below.

Released Bowlers (Spinners) 1

Rawalpindi: Rishad Hossain (Rs 30 million)

Islamabad United: Mehran Mumtaz (Rs 12 million)

Quetta Gladiators: Faisal Akram (PKR 12.5 million)

Released Wicketkeepers 1

Sialkot Stallionz: Sahibzada Farhan (Rs 57 million)

Karachi Kings: Azam Khan (Rs 32.5 million)

Released Bowlers 1

Rawalpindi: Naseem Shah (Rs 86.5 million)

Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen: Mohammad Ali (Rs 21.5 million)