HBL PSL Player Auction Begins in Lahore with Record Signings

The HBL PSL player auction started on Wednesday at the Expo Centre in Lahore, marking a historic first for Pakistan’s premier T20 league. For the first time, franchises selected players through an auction instead of the traditional draft system, signaling a major change ahead of the new season.

The event featured eight teams competing to strengthen their squads. Early in the HBL PSL player auction, Pakistani all-rounder Faheem Ashraf emerged as one of the top picks after Islamabad United secured him for Rs85 million. However, several other local all-rounders, including Imad Wasim and Hussain Talat, went unsold despite expectations of strong interest.

Meanwhile, Karachi Kings made headlines by signing Australian batter David Warner for Rs79 million. Quetta Gladiators followed by acquiring former South African all-rounder Rilee Rossouw for Rs55.5 million. These moves reflected franchises’ focus on experienced international talent.

In another notable development, Multan Sultans entered the tournament under new ownership and will now compete with the name “Rawalpindi.” The franchise showed aggressive intent by purchasing fast bowler Naseem Shah for Rs86.5 million, one of the highest bids of the day.

Additionally, Haris Rauf returned to Lahore Qalandars for Rs76 million, strengthening the team’s pace attack. Mohammad Ali joined Hyderabad for Rs21.5 million, while Jahanzaib Sultan was picked by Sialkot Stallions for Rs6 million. On the other hand, several players such as Colin Munro, Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, George Munsey, and England’s Chris Jordan did not receive any bids.

During the ceremony, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi presented customized T-shirts to franchise owners. The shirts celebrated Pakistan’s participation in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup and highlighted the Markhor-themed edition.

The shift from draft to auction aims to improve transparency and create more excitement around team building. As a result, analysts expect stronger competition and balanced squads in the upcoming tournament.

With high-value signings already drawing attention, the auction has set the stage for what could be one of the most competitive seasons in the league’s history. Cricket fans will now look forward to seeing how these new combinations perform once the tournament begins.