Six franchises have disclosed their player retentions for the HBL PSL season 11, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Wednesday. Title holders Lahore Qalandars top the list, led by their key players. Multan Sultans surprised fans by letting go of their entire previous squad.
Every franchise except Islamabad United retained four players. United opted to keep only three players. Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad, the two new teams, will share their retentions by Saturday, 7 February.
Complete Retentions List
Here is the complete Retention 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
Lahore Qalandars Build Around Shaheen Shah Afridi
Shaheen Shah Afridi remains the cornerstone of the Lahore Qalandars. The sole captain to lift the HBL PSL trophy three times remains with the title holders in the Platinum category. His captaincy and pace bowling make him invaluable for the franchise.
Abdullah Shafique accompanies Shaheen in the Diamond category. Zimbabwe’s versatile Sikandar Raza remains a Qalander in the Gold category. Mohammad Naeem fills their Silver category slot.
Quetta Gladiators Back Abrar Ahmed as Top Pick
Quetta Gladiators showed faith in mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed as their Platinum selection. His unusual bowling action makes him their number one choice. Usman Tariq accompanies him in the Diamond category.
Hasan Nawaz secured his Gold category position following an impressive previous season. He maintained a strike rate of 162.19 and accumulated 399 runs in 10 innings. Left-handed batter Shamyl Hussain fills their Emerging category slot.
Islamabad United Keep Faith in Shadab Khan
Shadab Khan’s nine-year stint with Islamabad United will mark its 10th year this season. The three-time HBL PSL winners retained him in the Platinum category. His dual abilities with bat and ball remain central to United’s strategy.
Fast bowler Salman Irshad remains with the franchise in the Gold category. USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous fills their Silver category spot. United left their Diamond and Emerging slots open for the auction.
Peshawar Zalmi Hold On to Babar Azam
Babar Azam, the top run-scorer in HBL PSL history, stays with Peshawar Zalmi. He ranks among just two cricketers to feature in 100 HBL PSL matches. The 2017 winners kept him in their Platinum category.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim occupies the Diamond category. Abdul Samad secured his Gold category retention. Pacer Ali Raza fills the Emerging category spot for Zalmi.
Karachi Kings Retain Hasan Ali as Lead Bowler
Hasan Ali remains the spearhead of Karachi Kings’ bowling unit. The all-time leading wicket-taker in HBL PSL stays with the 2020 winners in the Platinum category.
Mohammad Abbas Afridi occupies the Diamond category. Khushdil Shah secured his Gold category spot. Saad Baig fills the Emerging category position.
Multan Sultans Let Go of All Players
Multan Sultans took the most daring approach by releasing everyone. They parted ways with captain Mohammad Rizwan after four years together.
The Sultans will create an entirely fresh squad. They can pursue any player at the upcoming HBL PSL auction.
Sialkot Stallionz Land Steve Smith
Sialkot Stallionz pulled off a major coup by signing Steve Smith as the first direct acquisition in HBL PSL history. The former Australian skipper will debut in the PSL with one of the two newcomer franchises in 2026.
Smith comes riding high on a brilliant Big Bash League campaign. He amassed 299 runs for Sydney Sixers at an average close to 60 and a strike rate of 167.97. He smashed a hundred and two half-centuries during that tournament.
This move reunites him with former Australian captain Tim Paine, who serves as head coach of Sialkot Stallions. A fresh rule permitted franchises to acquire one overseas player directly outside the auction. Smith’s presence hands the new franchise a top-tier batter for their debut season.
HBL PSL Auction Scheduled For 11 February
The HBL PSL will host its maiden player auction on 11 February. This represents a departure from the long-standing draft format. Franchises can acquire between 16 and 20 players, including five to seven overseas cricketers.
Every franchise holds an auction budget of PKR 450 million. This figure can rise to PKR 505 million for direct signings. Every player will commit to a two-year deal with their franchise.
Franchises must select at least one local player under 23 who lacks PSL experience. Season 11 runs from 26 March to 3 May 2026.
Conclusion – Expanded 8-Team Format Promises A More Competitive HBL PSL
The HBL PSL 2026 retentions show how franchises value their core players. Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Hasan Ali remain the top stars in the Platinum category across five teams. Multan Sultans’ decision to release their entire squad, including Mohammad Rizwan, adds excitement to the upcoming auction.
Steve Smith’s arrival at Sialkot Stallionz brings international star power to the league. With the first-ever player auction set for 11 February, fans can expect intense bidding wars. The expanded eight-team format promises a bigger and more competitive HBL PSL season 11.
