The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is about to enter a new era. For the first time since its launch in 2016, the PSL will ditch the draft system and move to a full-fledged player auction. With two new teams added and several franchises resetting their cores, PSL 11 promises to look very different from what fans are used to.
The change comes ahead of a landmark season. PSL 2026 will feature eight teams, with Hyderabad and Sialkot joining the competition, and will run from March 26 to May 3. To accommodate the expanded field and create a more level playing field for franchises, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has overhauled the squad-building process.
When is the PSL 2026 player auction and how will it work?
The first-ever PSL player auction will take place on February 11. The rules were finalised at a PCB workshop in Lahore attended by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, PSL CEO Salman Naseer and representatives from all eight franchises.
Each franchise has an auction purse of PKR 45 crore (approximately USD 1.6 million or INR 14.60 crore), which can be extended to PKR 50.5 crore if they directly sign one overseas player who did not feature in PSL last season. Every player signed at the auction will be on a two-year contract.
PSL 2026 Player Base Price
Category Base Price (PKR)Approx. Base Price (INR)Min. Bid Increment (PKR)Approx. Increment (INR)Platinum4.2 Crore1.37 Crore15 Lakh4.88 LakhDiamond2.2 Crore71.50 Lakh10 Lakh3.25 LakhGold1.1 Crore35.75 Lakh5 Lakh1.63 LakhSilver0.6 Crore19.50 Lakh2.5 Lakh8,125Unpicked players from the auction pool will then be available to the two new franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, who can each sign up to four such players.
Cricket 12 mins PCB won’t sell PSL broadcast rights to India, expect to take on IPL in direct clashPSL 2026 franchise valuations (Annual Fee)
Team Annual Fee (PKR)Annual Fee (INR Approx.)OwnerRawalpindi (formerly Multan Sultans)2.45 Billion₹79.63 CroreWalee TechnologiesSialkot Stallionz (New)1.85 Billion₹60.13 CroreOZ DevelopersHyderabad Kingsmen (New)1.75 Billion₹56.88 CroreFKS GroupLahore Qalandars670 Million₹21.78 CroreQatar Lubricants Co.Karachi Kings640 Million₹20.80 CroreARY GroupPeshawar Zalmi490 Million₹15.93 CroreHaier PakistanIslamabad United480 Million₹15.60 CroreLeonine GlobalQuetta Gladiators340 Million₹11.05 CroreOmar AssociatesSquad rules, overseas limits and U23 requirement
Each team must build a squad of 16 to 20 players, with five to seven overseas players allowed. In the playing XI, franchises must field at least three and no more than four overseas players per match.
A key addition is the youth rule. Teams must have at least two uncapped under-23 players in their squad, with one under-23 player mandatory in every playing XI. Looking ahead, retention rules will tighten further. After PSL 11, teams can retain up to seven players. Following PSL 12 in 2027, a grand auction will be held, where only five players can be retained.
Cricket 12 mins Mustafizur Rahman to feature in PSL after BCCI-forced ouster from IPL 2026Retained players ahead of the PSL 2026 auction
Five franchises have already locked in their core players. Multan Sultans are the only team not to retain a single player. Hyderabad and Sialkot have retained players as well.
PSL 2026 Official Player Retentions & Pre-Auction Signings
Team Retained PlayersDirect Overseas SigningLahore QalandarsShaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold), Mohammad Naeem (Silver)Mustafizur RahmanPeshawar ZalmiBabar Azam (Platinum), Sufiyan Muqeem (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold), Ali Raza (Emerging)Withdrawn (Rahmanullah Gurbaz)Karachi KingsHasan Ali (Platinum), Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold), Saad Baig (Emerging)Moeen AliQuetta GladiatorsAbrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hasan Nawaz (Gold), Shamyl Hussain (Emerging)Spencer JohnsonIslamabad UnitedShadab Khan (Platinum), Salman Irshad (Gold), Andries Gous (Silver)Devon ConwaySialkot StallionzMohammad Nawaz (Platinum), Salman Mirza (Diamond), Ahmed Daniyal (Gold), Saad Masood (Emerging)Steve SmithHyderabad KingsmenSaim Ayub (Platinum), Usman Khan (Diamond), Akif Javed (Gold), Maaz Sadaqat (Emerging)Marnus LabuschagneRawalpindiNone (Full squad released)TBDOff the field, the league has also seen major movement. Multan Sultans were sold for a record annual fee of PKR 2.45 billion to Walee Technologies, the highest franchise valuation in PSL history. The new owners have announced that the team will be rebranded and relocated to Rawalpindi, ending Multan’s nine-year association with the league.
With marquee direct signings already confirmed, including Steve Smith for Sialkot, Moeen Ali for Karachi Kings and Devon Conway for Islamabad United, attention now turns fully to February 11.
Remaining Purse for PSL 2026 Auction
Franchise Remaining Purse (PKR)Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen50.5 CroreRawalpindi (Multan)50.5 CroreSialkot Stallionz45.0 CroreIslamabad United40.9 CroreKarachi Kings38.7 CroreLahore Qalandars37.8 CrorePeshawar Zalmi34.26 CroreQuetta Gladiators33.14 CrorePSL Auction 2026: New franchises, retained players, purses left & all you need to know Inside Sport India.
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