The Pakistan Super League 2026 teams have been finalised after the league’s first-ever player auction, and this is the biggest PSL roster shakeup in history. PSL 11 features eight franchises for the first time, including two new teams: Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindi Pindiz.
A total of 103 players were sold during the auction held on February 11, 2026 in Lahore. As a result, all eight squads were either rebuilt or heavily reshuffled. In this article, you will find the complete breakdown of all PSL 2026 squads, top auction buys, captains, overseas players, and team-wise analysis.
PSL 2026 Auction Overview & Key Facts
The PSL 2026 player auction was a landmark moment for Pakistan cricket. For the first time, the league moved away from the traditional draft system to an open bidding model. Consequently, teams had more freedom to target specific players and build squads around their strategy.
Each franchise had a purse of PKR 45 crore (extendable to PKR 50.5 crore with one direct overseas signing). Additionally, teams could retain up to four players from their existing squad before the auction, limited to one per category.
On top of that, the PCB abolished the RTM (Right to Match) option and mentor/brand ambassador roles for this edition. In other words, every franchise had to earn its players at the auction table. No shortcuts.
| Auction Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Auction Date | February 11, 2026 |
| Venue | Expo Centre, Lahore |
| Total Players Sold | 103 (including direct signings and retentions) |
| Overseas Players Sold | 38 at auction + direct signings |
| Team Purse | PKR 45 crore (up to 50.5 crore with direct overseas signing) |
| Max Retentions | 4 players per team (1 per category) |
| Squad Size | 16 to 20 players per team |
| Overseas Player Limit | 5 to 7 per squad |
| Contract Duration | 2-year contracts (until grand auction after PSL 2027) |
| Most Expensive (Auction) | Naseem Shah – PKR 8.65 crore (Rawalpindi Pindiz) |
| Most Expensive (Overall) | Steve Smith – PKR 14 crore (Multan Sultans, direct signing) |
| Key Rule | At least 2 uncapped U23 players per squad; 1 must play in every XI |
PSL 2026 Full Squads and Captains of All 8 Teams
Here is the complete squad list for all eight PSL 2026 teams with captains, overseas players, and key signings.
1. Lahore Qalandars
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| Group | Group A |
| PSL Titles | 3 (2022, 2023, 2025) |
| Home Ground | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
Squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Farooq, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Tayyab Tahir
Overseas Players: Mustafizur Rahman, Dasun Shanaka, Parvez Hossain Emon, Gudakesh Motie, Rubin Hermann, Dunith Wellalage
Team Analysis
Defending champions Lahore Qalandars enter PSL 2026 with arguably the most balanced squad in the league. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf form one of the most lethal pace pairings in T20 cricket anywhere.
Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman provides explosive starts at the top. The overseas picks are smart too.
Mustafizur Rahman and Dunith Wellalage add variety with their left-arm options. However, the middle-order depth could be tested if the top order fails early.
2. Karachi Kings
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | David Warner |
| Group | Group A |
| PSL Titles | 1 (2020) |
| Home Ground | National Bank Stadium, Karachi |
Squad: David Warner (c), Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shahid Aziz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Hamza Sohail, Aqib Ilyas, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Muhammad Waseem, Ihsanullah, Rizwanullah
Overseas Players: David Warner, Moeen Ali, Adam Zampa, Johnson Charles
Team Analysis
Karachi Kings have not won a title since 2020, and this squad feels like a genuine attempt to change that. David Warner leading the franchise brings star power and proven T20 leadership.
In addition, Adam Zampa gives them a world-class leg-spinner, while Moeen Ali adds middle-order firepower and part-time off-spin. Still, their pace attack beyond Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi looks thin.
That could be a problem on flat Lahore and Karachi wickets.
3. Quetta Gladiators
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | Saud Shakeel |
| Group | Group A |
| PSL Titles | 1 (2019) |
| Home Ground | Bugti Stadium, Quetta (matches at neutral venues) |
Squad: Saud Shakeel (c), Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Shamyl Hussain, Ahmed Daniyal, Jahanzaib Sultan, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Jahandad Khan, Khawaja Nafay, Wasim Akram Jr., Khan Zeb, Bismillah Khan, Saqib Khan
Overseas Players: Rilee Rossouw, Spencer Johnson, Brett Hampton, Sam Harper, Bevon Jacobs, Ben McDermott, Tom Curran
Team Analysis
Quetta Gladiators have gone with a heavy overseas bowling presence. Spencer Johnson’s pace and Tom Curran’s death-overs skills could be game-changers.
On top of that, Rilee Rossouw and Ben McDermott provide explosive batting options. However, Saud Shakeel as captain is an interesting choice.
He is primarily a classical batter who has only recently adapted to the T20 format. Consequently, his ability to handle the pressure of T20 captaincy will be fascinating to watch.
4. Hyderabad Kingsmen
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | Marnus Labuschagne |
| Group | Group A |
| PSL Titles | Debut season (new franchise) |
| Home Ground | National Bank Stadium, Karachi (home matches at neutral venues) |
Squad: Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Ali, Irfan Khan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Hammad Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Ali, Mohammad Tayyab Arif
Overseas Players: Marnus Labuschagne (c), Kusal Perera, Ottneil Baartman, Riley Meredith, Glenn Maxwell
Team Analysis
This is the wildcard entry of PSL 2026. Marnus Labuschagne captaining a T20 franchise raised eyebrows, but the franchise clearly values his cricketing brain over his T20 strike rate.
Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell and Kusal Perera bring proven T20 firepower. The biggest asset, though, is Saim Ayub.
He was the second-most expensive signing overall (PKR 12.6 crore direct signing) and will be the franchise’s batting backbone. In short, if their overseas players click, Hyderabad could surprise everyone in their debut year.
5. Islamabad United
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | Shadab Khan |
| Group | Group B |
| PSL Titles | 3 (2016, 2018, 2024) |
| Home Ground | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
Squad: Shadab Khan (c), Salman Irshad, Faheem Ashraf, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza Sajjad, Sameer Minhas, Sameen Gul, Imad Wasim, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Faiq, Blessing Muzarabani
Overseas Players: Andries Gous, Devon Conway, Max Bryant, Mark Chapman, Richard Gleeson, Dipendra Airee, Blessing Muzarabani
Team Analysis
Islamabad United are the PSL’s most trophy-laden franchise alongside Lahore, and they have rebuilt smartly. Faheem Ashraf’s return (PKR 8.5 crore) strengthens their all-round depth considerably.
In addition, Devon Conway brings class at the top, while Blessing Muzarabani (who left the PSL briefly for an IPL deal) adds pace. Shadab Khan’s captaincy record speaks for itself.
Consequently, United remain one of the favourites for the title once again.
6. Multan Sultans
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | Ashton Turner |
| Group | Group B |
| PSL Titles | 1 (2021) |
| Home Ground | Multan Cricket Stadium |
Squad: Ashton Turner (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Jahanzaib Sultan, Sahibzada Farhan, Shan Masood, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Shahzad, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Imran Randhawa, Nisar Ahmed, Shehzad Gul, Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Overseas Players: Steve Smith, Ashton Turner, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Philippe
Team Analysis
The Sultans have had quite the rollercoaster. After the original franchise was sold and relocated to Rawalpindi, CD Ventures bought the Sialkot Stallionz rights and brought back the Multan Sultans brand.
As a result, this is essentially a brand-new squad wearing a familiar name. Steve Smith (PKR 14 crore direct signing) is the marquee name, and Tabraiz Shamsi brings elite spin.
However, Ashton Turner as captain is untested at this level. Mohammad Nawaz provides local batting and spin depth, but overall, this squad feels like a work in progress.
7. Peshawar Zalmi
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | Babar Azam |
| Group | Group B |
| PSL Titles | 1 (2017) |
| Home Ground | Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar (1 home game this season) |
Squad: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mirza Tahir Baig
Overseas Players: Aaron Hardie, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Nahid Rana, Tymal Mills
Team Analysis
Peshawar Zalmi have built their squad around Babar Azam, and for good reason. He remains one of the best batters in the world across formats.
Additionally, Aaron Hardie brings all-round value from Australia, while Tymal Mills adds left-arm pace variety. The local talent includes Mohammad Haris, whose explosive hitting has won games on its own in the past.
Still, Peshawar have only one home game this season (at the newly built Imran Khan Cricket Stadium), which could affect their momentum.
8. Rawalpindi Pindiz
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Captain | Mohammad Rizwan |
| Group | Group B |
| PSL Titles | Debut season (new franchise) |
| Home Ground | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium |
Squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Sam Billings, Zaman Khan, Yasir Khan, Naseem Shah, Rishad Hossain, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Amir, Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Asif Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Fawad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Shahzaib Khan
Overseas Players: Sam Billings, Daryl Mitchell, Rishad Hossain, Dian Forrester, Laurie Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk
Team Analysis
The Pindiz were the most expensive franchise in PSL history (PKR 245 crore), and they spent big at the auction too. Naseem Shah (PKR 8.65 crore) and Daryl Mitchell (PKR 8.05 crore) were the headline buys.
Furthermore, Mohammad Rizwan as captain provides stability and experience. Jake Fraser-McGurk is a wildcard pick who could be devastating if he fires.
With Mohammad Amir also in the squad, this pace-heavy lineup could be lethal on Rawalpindi’s bowler-friendly deck. On paper, this is one of the strongest debut squads in PSL history.
Top Auction Buys & Most Expensive Players in PSL 2026
The PSL 2026 auction saw some huge bids fly around. Steve Smith was the overall highest earner through a direct signing worth PKR 14 crore with Multan Sultans (then Sialkot Stallionz). Meanwhile, Naseem Shah became the most expensive auction buy at PKR 8.65 crore.
Here are the top earners across direct signings, retentions, and auction buys:
| # | Player | Team | Price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Smith | Multan Sultans | PKR 14.00 Cr | Direct Signing |
| 2 | Saim Ayub | Hyderabad Kingsmen | PKR 12.60 Cr | Direct Signing |
| 3 | Naseem Shah | Rawalpindi Pindiz | PKR 8.65 Cr | Auction |
| 4 | Faheem Ashraf | Islamabad United | PKR 8.50 Cr | Auction |
| 5 | Daryl Mitchell | Rawalpindi Pindiz | PKR 8.05 Cr | Auction |
| 6 | Fakhar Zaman | Lahore Qalandars | PKR 7.95 Cr | Auction |
| 7 | David Warner | Karachi Kings | PKR 7.90 Cr | Auction |
| 8 | Haris Rauf | Lahore Qalandars | PKR 7.60 Cr | Auction |
| 9 | Mark Chapman | Islamabad United | PKR 7.00 Cr | Auction |
| 10 | Shaheen Afridi | Lahore Qalandars | PKR 7.00 Cr | Retained |
Interestingly, Rawalpindi Pindiz spent the most at the auction, picking up three of the top 5 most expensive players. Consequently, they have the highest wage bill among all eight franchises.
Local vs Overseas Player Composition
Each PSL 2026 team must carry between 5 and 7 overseas players in their squad of 16 to 20. Here is how the eight franchises have balanced their squads:
| Team | Local Players | Overseas Players | Total Squad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lahore Qalandars | 13 | 6 | 19 |
| Karachi Kings | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| Quetta Gladiators | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| Islamabad United | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Multan Sultans | 10 | 7 | 17 |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 5 | 6 | 11* |
| Rawalpindi Pindiz | 9 | 6 | 15 |
*Peshawar Zalmi’s full squad was still being finalised at time of writing. Late replacements may increase the count before the tournament starts.
Squad Analysis, Team Strengths & Player Spotlight
The PSL 2026 squads show a clear split between teams that went all-in on star power and those that bet on depth and balance. Here is a quick look at the standout players and what makes this season’s rosters unique.
Player Spotlight: Naseem Shah (Rawalpindi Pindiz)
The most expensive auction buy at PKR 8.65 crore, Naseem Shah will be the face of the Pindiz bowling attack. His ability to consistently bowl over 150 kph makes him one of the most feared pacers in the league. Furthermore, he has taken 50+ wickets in PSL history and will be bowling on his home ground in Rawalpindi, where conditions suit fast bowlers.
Player Spotlight: David Warner (Karachi Kings)
David Warner brings over 10,000 T20 runs across his career and will captain Karachi this season. His aggressive batting style at the top of the order could be the difference for a team that has struggled for consistency in recent years. Additionally, Warner’s leadership in leagues like the IPL, BBL, and SA20 gives him an edge in managing pressure situations.
Player Spotlight: Saim Ayub (Hyderabad Kingsmen)
At just 23, Saim Ayub is already one of Pakistan’s most exciting batting talents. His direct signing worth PKR 12.6 crore makes him the second-highest earner in PSL 2026 after Steve Smith. As a result, the Hyderabad Kingsmen will build their entire batting strategy around him. His ability to play pace and spin with equal comfort makes him a nightmare for opposition bowlers.
Player Spotlight: Shadab Khan (Islamabad United)
Shadab Khan has captained Islamabad United to three PSL titles, and that record alone puts him in a league of his own. His leg-spin remains effective, and his lower-order hitting has bailed the team out more than once. Consequently, he remains the most valuable captain-player combination in PSL.
Which Team Looks the Strongest on Paper?
Lahore Qalandars and Rawalpindi Pindiz look the strongest heading into PSL 2026. Lahore has the benefit of experience and a proven core. On the other hand, Rawalpindi has spent big and assembled a squad packed with match-winners.
However, do not sleep on Islamabad United. They have won three titles for a reason, and Shadab Khan knows how to get the best out of his squad. Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi with Babar Azam could be dangerous if their overseas picks fire on all cylinders.
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Final Take: PSL 2026 Squads Set the Stage for a Blockbuster Season
The first-ever PSL auction and the expansion to eight teams have created the most competitive roster lineup in the tournament’s history. While Lahore Qalandars remain the team to beat, squads like Rawalpindi Pindiz and Islamabad United are built to challenge right from Match 1.
The mix of proven international stars like Warner, Smith, and Maxwell with Pakistan’s best domestic talent promises an unpredictable and thrilling season. Bookmark this page for squad updates as the tournament progresses.
