The Pakistan Super League 2026 season is here, bringing another exciting chapter of Pakistan’s premier T20 cricket tournament. The 11th edition of PSL runs from 26 March to 3 May 2026, featuring 8 teams battling for the championship trophy for the first time.
Captains play a huge role in the success of the PSL, as they lead their teams both on and off the field. This season sees an interesting mix of teams sticking with their trusted leaders and some franchises making bold changes.
Most teams have kept their captains from previous seasons, showing confidence in their leadership. In this article, you will find the complete list of PSL 2026 captains and detailed profiles of each leader.
PSL 2026 Captains List
The six PSL franchises have finalized their captains for the 2026 season. Each team has chosen leaders who bring experience, skill, and a winning mentality.
Here is the complete list of captains who will lead their teams in PSL 2026.
| Team | Captain |
|---|---|
| Lahore Qalandars | Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| Karachi Kings | David Warner |
| Quetta Gladiators | Saud Shakeel |
| Peshawar Zalmi | Babar Azam |
| Islamabad United | Shadab Khan |
| Multan Sultans | Mohammad Rizwan |
| Hyderabad | not yet been announced. |
| Sialkot | not yet been announced. |
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi
Lahore Qalandars continue with Shaheen Shah Afridi as their captain for PSL 2026. Shaheen took over the captaincy in December 2021 and has since become the most successful captain in PSL history. Under his leadership, Lahore Qalandars have won three PSL titles – in 2022, 2023, and most recently in 2025 (PSL 10), making him the first captain to lift three PSL trophies.
As a fast bowler, Shaheen leads from the front with his wicket-taking ability. He picks up crucial wickets in powerplays and death overs. His overall PSL record includes 108 wickets in 75 matches with a bowling average of 20.85 and a strike rate of 15.58. Under his captaincy, Lahore Qalandars transformed from perennial underachievers to a dominant force, playing fearless cricket.
Karachi Kings: David Warner
Karachi Kings have appointed David Warner as their captain for PSL 2025/2026. The former Australian opener was the Kings’ first pick at the draft and replaced Shan Masood as captain. Warner is one of the most experienced T20 cricketers globally and brings extensive leadership experience from captaining Australia in ODIs and T20Is, as well as leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to their maiden IPL title in 2016.
Warner’s leadership style focuses on aggressive, attacking cricket. As a left-handed opening batsman, he provides explosive starts at the top of the order. His experience winning the 2016 IPL title with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he scored 848 runs at a strike rate of 151.42, demonstrates his ability to lead from the front. Karachi Kings hope his leadership will break their three-year playoff drought and return them to championship contention.
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan
Islamabad United continues with Shadab Khan as their captain for PSL 2026. Shadab has grown into the leadership role since being appointed captain in December 2021, becoming the youngest captain in PSL history. He has led Islamabad to remarkable success, cementing their position as the most successful franchise in PSL history.
Shadab led Islamabad United to the PSL 2024 title and was named Player of the Tournament for his outstanding all-round performance, scoring 305 runs at a strike rate of 142.52, including three half-centuries, and taking 14 wickets. In the 2024 final against Multan Sultans, he took 3 wickets for 32 runs, dismissing key batsmen including Mohammad Rizwan.
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam
Peshawar Zalmi sticks with Babar Azam as their captain for PSL 2026. Babar was appointed captain ahead of the 2023 season after being traded from Karachi Kings. The right-handed top-order batsman is one of Pakistan’s premier cricketers and brings extensive leadership experience from captaining Pakistan across all three formats.
As a batsman, Babar provides consistency at the top of the order. He can pace his innings perfectly, whether the team needs quick runs or steady building. In PSL 2024, he scored 569 runs in 11 matches with an average of 56.9, including one century and five half-centuries.
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan
Multan Sultans continue with Mohammad Rizwan as their captain for PSL 2026. Rizwan was appointed captain in 2021 and has since established himself as one of the most successful captains in PSL history, transforming Multan Sultans into consistent title contenders.
Rizwan led Multan to the PSL 2021 championship and has kept them competitive every season, reaching four consecutive finals from 2021 to 2024. As a wicketkeeper-batsman, Rizwan usually opens the innings and plays long innings. He has amassed 2,735 runs in 82 PSL matches, with a highest score of 110*. He has scored 2 PSL centuries and 20 half-centuries, making him the only player in PSL history to score 500+ runs in three separate seasons.
Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel
Quetta Gladiators have appointed Saud Shakeel as their captain for PSL 2026. Saud is a left-handed middle-order batsman who represents Pakistan in Test and ODI cricket. This is his first season as captain of Quetta Gladiators, taking over from the legendary Sarfaraz Ahmed who led the team for eight consecutive seasons.
Saud Shakeel brings fresh leadership to Quetta Gladiators. As a middle-order batsman, he provides stability and composure under pressure. In PSL 2025 (PSL 10), Quetta Gladiators topped the points table and reached the final, marking a significant turnaround after failing to make the playoffs for four consecutive seasons (2020-2023). Sarfaraz Ahmed is now the head coach.
Hyderabad: Captain To Be Announced
Hyderabad joins the Pakistan Super League as a new franchise for PSL 2026. The team has not yet announced its captain for the upcoming season. The franchise will likely choose a leader who understands the local conditions and can build team spirit from scratch. As a new team, Hyderabad needs a captain who can create a strong team culture right from the start.
The leadership choice will be crucial for setting the tone of this franchise. Fans are waiting eagerly to see which experienced player or rising star will get the captaincy role. The captain will need to handle the pressure of building a new team while competing against established franchises. This announcement will be one of the most watched decisions in the lead-up to PSL 2026.
Sialkot: Captain To Be Announced
Sialkot enters the Pakistan Super League as another new franchise for PSL 2026. The team management has not yet revealed their choice for captain. As a fresh franchise, Sialkot will need a leader who can inspire the squad and compete from day one. The captaincy decision will shape how the team approaches their first PSL season. Whether they choose an established international player or back a local talent remains to be seen.
The captain will face the challenge of blending new players into a cohesive unit quickly. Sialkot fans are excited to discover who will lead their team onto the field. This decision will set the direction for the franchise in its debut season.
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Conclusion: Experience vs Fresh Leadership in PSL 2026
PSL 2026 shows a clear trend of franchises backing experienced captains. All six teams have retained their leaders from previous seasons, showing confidence in proven leadership. Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel bring championship-winning experience to their teams.
Babar Azam offers international captaincy credentials. Shaheen Shah Afridi represents the new generation of young captains who have already tasted success. While there are no brand new captains this season, the competition between these established leaders will be fascinating.
