Steve Smith has been one of the finest cricketers in world cricket. The veteran Australian cricketer was amazing in the Ashes series as he captained the side against England, winning the series 4-1. Smith was last seen in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Sydney Sixers. He played 6 matches, scored 299 runs with an average of 59.80 for the Sixers, and was the highest run scorer for the side as well.
Smith scored one century and two half-centuries in the tournament. He joined the season in the middle and also helped his side to qualify for the final, but lost to the Perth Scorchers. Steve Smith, who went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, has now joined the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) newest franchise, Sialkot Stallionz. This is the first season that he will be featuring in this league.
Steve Smith to captain Sialkot-based franchise?
Steve Smith was signed directly by the Sialkot-based team before the PSL’s inaugural player auction on Wednesday, February 11. The news comes just weeks after Sialkot Stallionz were officially announced as one of the PSL’s two new franchises. Smith’s addition can be crucial for the franchise as he might also be leading the side in the upcoming PSL season.
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Steve Smith has the experience of playing around 272 T20 matches, scoring 6,242 runs at an average of 32.68 and a strike rate of 131.38, including five centuries and 30 half-centuries. With his experience, the new franchise can turn things around and win the championship as well. As per the rule of the PSL 11, each franchise is allowed one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10.
OZ Developers creates history in the auction
The team’s rights are in the hands of the OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan. It was announced during the PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8. OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of INR 1.85 billion, which turned out to be the most expensive bid to buy a franchise in PSL history.
Tim Paine named as Sialkot Stallionz’s head coach
Sialkot Stallionz previously signed former Australian captain Tim Paine as their head coach. The announcement came via Stallionz’s social handles with an animated poster. The Instagram post read, “We’re proud to announce Tim Paine as the Head Coach of 𝑺𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒐𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒛.” “Former Australian captain. Proven leader at the highest level. A championship mindset to lead a new era. Welcome to the Stallionz family, Coach,” it added.
Paine has prior experience in coaching, as he took over coaching the Adelaide Strikers and was later named as Australia A coach for three series in the second half of 2025. He was appointed as a consultant for the Australia A men’s series as well as the Australia women’s squad, while continuing to coach the Strikers. The PSL is set to begin on the 26th of March 2026.
Also Read: Steve Smith added to Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad as a standby option
