The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday that six franchises have unveiled their player retentions for HBL PSL season 11. Defending champions Lahore Qalandars lead the pack with their star players. Meanwhile, Multan Sultans surprised everyone by not retaining any players from their previous squad.
All franchises except Islamabad United kept four players each. United decided to retain only three players. The two new franchises, Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad, will announce their retentions by Saturday, 7 February.
Full Retentions List
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold), Mohammad Naeem (Silver)
Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hasan Nawaz (Gold), Shamyl Hussain (Emerging)
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (Platinum), Salman Irshad (Gold), Andries Gous (Silver)
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (Platinum), Sufyan Moqim (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold), Ali Raza (Emerging)
Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali (Platinum), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold), Saad Baig (Emerging)
Multan Sultans: No retentions
Shaheen Shah Afridi Stays With Lahore Qalandars
Shaheen Shah Afridi remains the face of Lahore Qalandars. The only captain to win HBL PSL three times stays with the defending champions in the Platinum category. His leadership and bowling skills make him a valuable asset for the franchise.
Abdullah Shafique joins Shaheen in the Diamond category. Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza stays with the Qalandars in the Gold category. Mohammad Naeem completes their retention list in the Silver category.
Abrar Ahmed Leads Quetta Gladiators Retentions
Quetta Gladiators put their trust in mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed as their Platinum pick. The spinner’s unique bowling style makes him their top choice. Usman Tariq joins him in the Diamond category.
Hasan Nawaz earned his Gold category spot after a stellar last season. He struck at 162.19 and scored 399 runs in 10 innings. Left-handed batter Shamyl Hussain rounds up their squad in the Emerging category.
Shadab Khan Enters Decade With Islamabad United
Shadab Khan’s nine-year journey with Islamabad United will mark its 10th season this year. The three-time HBL PSL champions kept him in the Platinum category. His all-round skills with bat and ball continue to define United’s game plan.
Fast bowler Salman Irshad stays with the team in the Gold category. USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous completes their retention list in the Silver category. United chose not to fill their Diamond or Emerging slots through retentions.
Babar Azam Continues With Peshawar Zalmi
Babar Azam, the leading run-getter in HBL PSL history, remains with Peshawar Zalmi. He is one of only two players to have appeared in 100 HBL PSL games. The 2017 champions kept him in their Platinum category without hesitation.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim stays in the Diamond category. Abdul Samad earned his place in the Gold category. Pacer Ali Raza completes the Zalmi retention list in the Emerging category.
Hasan Ali Headlines Karachi Kings Squad
Hasan Ali will continue to lead Karachi Kings’ bowling attack. The leading wicket-taker in HBL PSL history stays with the 2020 champions in the Platinum category.
Mohammad Abbas Afridi stays in the Diamond category. Khushdil Shah earned his Gold category retention. Saad Baig joins the squad in the Emerging category.
Multan Sultans Release Entire Squad
Multan Sultans made the boldest move by not retaining any player. They released even their captain, Mohammad Rizwan, after a four-year association.
The Sultans will build a completely new squad from scratch. They can now target any player available in the first-ever HBL PSL auction.
Steve Smith Signs With Sialkot Stallionz
In a major development, Sialkot Stallionz signed Steve Smith as the first direct signing in HBL PSL history. The former Australian captain will make his PSL debut with one of the two new franchises entering the league in 2026.
Smith arrives in top form after a stellar Big Bash League season. He scored 299 runs for Sydney Sixers at an average of nearly 60 and a strike rate of 167.97. He hit a century and two fifties during the tournament.
The signing brings him together with former Australian captain Tim Paine, who serves as head coach for Sialkot Stallionz. A new rule allowed franchises to directly sign one overseas player outside the auction. Smith’s addition gives the debutant franchise a world-class batter for their first season.
First-Ever Player Auction Set For 11 February
The HBL PSL will conduct its first-ever player auction on 11 February. This marks a shift from the traditional draft system. Teams can sign between 16 and 20 players, with five to seven overseas players allowed.
Each franchise has an auction purse of PKR 450 million. This amount can extend to PKR 505 million to accommodate direct signings. All players will sign two-year contracts with their franchises.
Teams must also pick at least one local player under 23 who has never played in the PSL. The 11th season will run from 26 March to 3 May 2026.
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