Pakistan’s biggest names - Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Abrar Ahmed - have been retained by their respective PSL franchises ahead of the first player auction, while Mohammad Rizwan’s four-year stint with Multan Sultans has ended after he was not retained.
Who are the main retentions ahead of the 2026 PSL player auction?
All six pre-existing teams confirmed their team retentions on Wednesday, with newcomers Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz expected to finalise their signings by February 7.
The PSL has confirmed that the league will witness its first-ever player auction on 11 February, marking a shift from the traditional draft system. Last week, the rules for the auction were finalised, with each side allowed to retain a maximum of four players, one from each category.
Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have built their retained group around captain Shaheen Afridi, after leading the franchise to three titles, the most by any skipper in the league’s history. They have also secured Abdullah Shafique, Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and emerging talent Mohammad Naeem, following his breakthrough campaign last season.
Quetta Gladiators placed their faith in mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed as their Platinum pick, while Usman Tariq was slotted into Diamond. Last season’s standout performer, Hasan Nawaz, who struck at 162.19, making 399 runs in 10 innings, has been retained in the Gold category, with young left-hander Shamyl Hussain retained as an Emerging player.
Peshawar Zalmi have once again centred their plans around Babar Azam, the competition’s leading run-scorer and one of only two cricketers to reach the 100-match milestone in the tournament history. Alongside him, wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim, Abdul Samad, and fast bowler Ali Raza have also been retained.
No takers for Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf
The biggest headline has been the release of Mohammad Rizwan by Multan Sultans after a span of four years. Rizwan, who is no longer around the Pakistan T20I side, did not have the greatest outing last year, ending 2025 with a strike rate of 132.1, from 19 innings. His maiden BBL stint did not go as planned either: Playing for the Renegades, he scored only 187 runs from 10 matches, striking at 102.74.
Rauf, on the other hand, had a contrasting BBL, ending as the highest wicket-taker, picking up 20 scalps at 16.75 in 11 innings. Rauf, who played for Lahore since 2019, picked up 83 wickets for the franchise, including 17 wickets at 25.70 in 12 innings. The franchise has not named any retentions.
2026 PSL: Who are the players that have been retained by the PSL teams?
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza and Mohammad Naeem
Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz and Shamyl Hussain
Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Salman Irshad and Andries Gous
Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Sufyan Moqim, Abdul Samad and Ali Raza
Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah and Saad Baig
Multan Sultans: Zero retentions
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