The Pakistan Super League (PSL) created history on Wednesday as player selection for its 11th season was conducted through an open auction for the first time, with fast bowler Naseem Shah emerging as the most expensive local player and New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell becoming the highest-priced overseas signing.
The landmark auction was held at the Expo Centre Lahore, where all franchises completed their squads ahead of the new season.
While several marquee signings attracted heavy bids, several high-profile players, including Imad Wasim and Colin Munro, failed to attract buyers.
Naseem Shah was picked by Rawalpindi for Rs86.5 million, making him the most expensive local player in the auction.
Daryl Mitchell was also signed by Rawalpindi for Rs80.5 million, the highest price paid for a foreign player.
The auction ceremony was attended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was warmly received by franchise owners.
Naqvi presented franchise representatives with special customised T-shirts featuring the Markhor logo for Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
The auction opened with Islamabad United acquiring Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for Rs85 million.
Imad Wasim, despite a base price of Rs42 million, went unsold, while Hussain Talat, listed at Rs11 million, also failed to attract bids.
Several players in the Rs12 million base-price category — including Mohammad Junaid, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Asif Afridi, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Zeeshan, Kyle Mayers, Colin Munro, Mohammad Riazullah, Umair bin Asif, Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam and George Munsey — were not picked in the opening rounds.
Among major overseas signings, Karachi Kings secured Australia’s David Warner for Rs79 million, while Quetta Gladiators picked South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw for Rs55.5 million. Newly added franchise Sialkot Stallions bought Jahanzeb Sultan for Rs6 million.
New franchise Hyderabad acquired Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Ali for Rs21.5 million, while Lahore Qalandars re-signed pacer Haris Rauf for Rs76 million.
England’s Chris Jordan and Pakistan pacers Mohammad Hasnain and Roman Raees went unsold at this stage.
Karachi Kings signed wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan for Rs32.5 million, while Sialkot Stallions picked aggressive all-rounder Sahibzada Farhan for Rs57 million.
Bangladesh off-spinner Rishad Hossain joined Rawalpindi for Rs30 million.
Young spinners Mehran Mumtaz and Faisal Akram were picked by Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators, respectively, for Rs12.5 million each.
Peshawar Zalmi signed all-rounder Aamer Jamal for Rs19 million, while Quetta added emerging spinner Arafat Minhas for Rs11 million.
Lahore Qalandars secured spinner Usama Mir for Rs35 million, while Quetta Gladiators bought all-rounder Jahandad Khan for Rs25 million.
National T20 captain Salman Ali Agha was snapped up by Karachi Kings for Rs58.5 million, while Lahore Qalandars re-acquired star opener Fakhar Zaman for Rs79.5 million.
Rawalpindi further strengthened their pace attack by signing Mohammad Amir for Rs54 million, while Islamabad United picked Australia’s Max Bryant for Rs19.5 million and Mohammad Wasim Jr for Rs41 million.
Peshawar Zalmi secured Khurram Shahzad for Rs27 million.
In the second round after the lunch break, New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham and Pakistan batter Iftikhar Ahmed initially went unpicked.
Karachi Kings later signed Shahid Aziz for Rs9.25 million, while Hyderabad Kingsmen acquired Mohammad Irfan Khan Niazi for Rs29 million.
Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood, along with Haider Ali, Asif Ali and Shahnawaz Dahani, failed to attract bids at that stage.
Rawalpindi acquired Abdullah Fazal for Rs6.75 million, while Islamabad United snapped up New Zealand batter Mark Chapman for Rs70 million.
Sialkot Stallions picked Australia’s Ashton Turner for Rs42 million, while Karachi Kings signed Mir Hamza for Rs24 million and Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa for Rs45 million.
Sialkot also secured former Australian pacer Peter Siddle for Rs25 million and South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for Rs22 million.
Later rounds featured multiple supplementary and emerging-player selections, including international names such as Shimron Joseph, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Johnson Charles and Richard Gleeson, alongside a wide pool of domestic talent.
According to the PCB, more than 800 local and foreign players were registered for the PSL 11 auction.
Franchises were allowed to select 16 to 21 players, with a minimum of five overseas players in a 16-member squad and up to seven foreign players in a 21-member squad.
Each team must include at least two Under-23 players.
Teams were allocated a total budget of Rs505 million, which also includes payments for retained players and direct signings.
