Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams have announced their retained players before the first-ever PSL auction, and there were some shocking decisions. The biggest surprise came from the Multan Sultans.
Multan Sultans shock everyone ahead of PSL Auction
The Multan Sultans did not retain even a single player and released everyone, including their captain, Mohammad Rizwan. They are the only team to go into the PSL Auction 2026 with a completely empty squad. The auction will take place on February 11.
However, the new teams Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad have not announced their retentions yet. They will release their list by February 7. Well, Peshawar Zalmi, Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators, and Karachi Kings have each retained four players.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Read Also: Pakistan shockingly boxed in! ICC agreement breach leaves no escape as 48-hour clock starts ticking
Islamabad United have kept only three players. Star players Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Hasan Ali have all been kept in the Platinum category by their teams.
Big stars retained across Pakistan Super League teams
Babar will continue his Pakistan Super League journey with Peshawar Zalmi, Shaheen stays with Lahore Qalandars, Shadab remains at Islamabad United, Abrar Ahmed is with Quetta Gladiators, and Hasan Ali will continue to play for Karachi Kings in the tournament.
The Lahore Qalandars retained Shaheen Afridi along with Abdullah Shafique in the Diamond category, Sikandar Raza in Gold, and Mohammad Naeem in Silver. Quetta Gladiators focused heavily on spin by keeping Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq as their top choices.
They also retained Hasan Nawaz in Gold and young left-hander Shamyl Hussain in the Emerging category. At Peshawar Zalmi, Babar Azam will be joined by Sufiyan Muqeem in Diamond, Abdul Samad in Gold, and Ali Raza as an Emerging player.
Read Also: Overseas players to boycott PSL amid India vs Pakistan controversy, hints Ravichandran Ashwin
Islamabad United kept Shadab Khan along with Salman Irshad in gold and USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous in silver. Islamabad United did not retain anyone in the Platinum or Emerging categories. Karachi Kings retained Hasan Ali along with Abbas Afridi in Diamond, Khushdil Shah in Gold, and Saad Baig as an Emerging player.
PSL sets two-year contracts, squad limits and budget rules ahead of auction
All retained players and those picked in the auction will get two-year contracts. Each team can have 16 to 20 players in total, including five to seven overseas players. Every squad must also include at least one local under-23 player who has not played PSL before.
Each Pakistan Super League team has PKR 450 million to spend, which can go up to PKR 505 million. Teams can also sign one player directly, and Sialkot Stallionz have already done that by signing Steve Smith.
Team-wise full retentions with player categories:
Lahore Qalandars
- Platinum: Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Diamond: Abdullah Shafique
- Gold: Sikandar Raza
- Silver: Mohammad Naeem
Quetta Gladiators
- Platinum: Abrar Ahmed
- Diamond: Usman Tariq
- Gold: Hasan Nawaz
- Emerging: Shamyl Hussain
Islamabad United
- Platinum: Shadab Khan
- Gold: Salman Irshad
- Silver: Andries Gous
Peshawar Zalmi
- Platinum: Babar Azam
- Diamond: Sufyan Moqim
- Gold: Abdul Samad
- Emerging: Ali Raza
Karachi Kings
- Platinum: Hasan Ali
- Diamond: Mohammad Abbas Afridi
- Gold: Khushdil Shah
- Emerging: Saad Baig
