LAHORE – The first-ever player auction officially began at Expo Centre, replacing the old draft system. The league is also expanding with two new franchises, Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, making this the most anticipated player selection event in Pakistan cricket history.
A staggering 879 local and international players registered for the auction, divided into Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Emerging categories, as franchises battle for top talent within a USD 1.6 million purse. Unlike the old draft system, there’s no pick order, sparking intense bidding wars across the board.
PSL 11 Auction Rules
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Player Retention: Teams can retain up to 4 players, one per category, while new franchises can select 4 players from the released pool. Retentions deduct from a PKR 45 crore salary cap.
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Squads: Minimum 16, maximum 20 players; foreign player limit 5–6 depending on squad size; at least two local U23 uncapped players required.
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Base Prices
| Category | Base Price | Minimum Bid |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | PKR 4.2 Crore | PKR 15 Lakh (for bids above 4.2 Cr) |
| Diamond | PKR 2.2 Crore | PKR 10 Lakh (for bids under 4.2 Cr) |
| Gold | PKR 1.1 Crore | PKR 5 Lakh (for bids under 2.2 Cr) |
| Silver / Emerging | PKR 60 Lakh | PKR 2.5 Lakh (for bids under 1.1 Cr) |
Biggest Auction Hits
Rawalpindi stunned fans by signing Amad Butt for PKR 80 lakh, Daryl Mitchell for PKR 8.05 crore, and Naseem Shah for a whopping PKR 8.65 crore.
Karachi Kings snapped up Adam Zampa (4.5 Cr) and David Warner (7.9 Cr).
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen grabbed Kusal Perera for 3.1 Cr, while Sialkot Stallionz secured Tabraiz Shamsi (2.2 Cr) and Peter Siddle (2.5 Cr).
Other notable picks included Mohammad Amir (5.4 Cr, Rawalpindi), Fakhar Zaman (7.95 Cr, Lahore Qalandars), Faheem Ashraf (8.5 Cr, Islamabad United), and several emerging stars, ensuring every franchise is armed with firepower.
Retention & Direct Signings Boost Star Power
Ahead of the auction, teams retained up to four players and made direct signings of top foreign talent to strengthen their squads:
| Franchise | Retained / Direct Signings |
|---|---|
| Lahore Qalandars | Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mustafizur Rahman |
| Karachi Kings | Hasan Ali, Moeen Ali |
| Islamabad United | Shadab Khan, Devon Conway |
| Peshawar Zalmi | Babar Azam, Aaron Hardie |
| Quetta Gladiators | Abrar Ahmed, Spencer Johnson |
| Rawalpindi | Mohammad Rizwan, Sam Billings |
| Sialkot Stallionz | Mohammad Nawaz, Steve Smith |
| Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen | Saim Ayub, Marnus Labuschagne |
PSL 11 auction has already set the cricketing world abuzz, promising a season packed with explosive talent, high-stakes bidding, and unforgettable matches. Fans are in for a jaw-dropping, action-packed tournament as franchises unveil their dream squads.
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