Australia legend signs up for first PSL stint in seven years with new franchise

Steve Smith set to make first-ever PSL appearance

In 2026, the PSL will move away from player drafts to player auctions for the first time in history. Ahead of the auction, the two new teams, Kingsmen Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz, can select four players from the pool of cricketers not retained by the six existing franchises.

In a major acquisition, the Stallionz acquired former Australia captain Smith, who has been in terrific form for the Sydney Sixers in the recently completed edition of the BBL. He smashed 299 runs at a strike rate of 168, and hit a boundary shot every 4.6 balls.

Smith played the last of his 67 T20Is in February 2024: he scored 1,094 runs at 125 for Australia in the format, and was part of the 2021 T20 World Cup winning squad. He led them eight times, between August 2015 and March 2016.

The stint with the Sialkot Stallionz will mark the PSL debut for Smith, who has featured in most major franchise leagues around the world. However, this isn't the first time he has signed up for a PSL team. In 2019, Smith was ruled out of the PSL due to an injury after having signed a deal with Multan Sultans. He didn't end up playing a single game.

Sialkot Stallionz will see the reunion of Smith and former Australia captain Tim Paine, who has been appointed as the head coach of the new side.

Steve Smith in franchise cricket

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