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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Super League franchises have locked in their retained players and released several big names ahead of the league&rsquo;s first-ever players&rsquo; auction, scheduled for Feb. 11, marking a major shift in how squads are built. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 922px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2018771511897911472&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=2c33c371487d07e8c8e629e0532d2a728993df1e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Under the revised rules for PSL 11, teams were allowed to retain only four players, compared to up to eight in previous seasons, forcing franchises to make tough calls and release several established stars into the auction pool. Entering the auction pool is a high-risk, high-reward situation for players. While strong demand can lead to higher prices, shifting team needs and limited budgets can result in a player going unsold.&nbsp;Lahore Qalandars, the defending champions, retained skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold), and Mohammad Naeem (Silver). Big names such as Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf were released and will be available in the auction.&nbsp;Peshawar Zalmi held on to their core by retaining captain Babar Azam (Platinum), spinner Sufiyan Muqeem (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold), and young pacer Ali Raza (Emerging). Players like Mohammad Haris, Hussain Talat, and Saim Ayub were released.&nbsp;Quetta Gladiators opted for a balanced mix, keeping Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hassan Nawaz (Gold), and Shamyl Hussain (Emerging). Notably, experienced campaigners Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, and Saud Shakeel, the skipper in PSL 10, were released.&nbsp;Karachi Kings retained Hasan Ali (Platinum), Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold), and wicketkeeper Saad Baig (Emerging). Former captain Shan Masood, star bowler Mir Hamza, and overseas star David Warner were among the high-profile names heading to the auction.&nbsp;Islamabad United kept captain Shadab Khan (Platinum), pacer Salman Irshad (Gold), and USA batter Andries Gous (Silver). Senior players, including Naseem Shah, Imad Wasim, and Mohammad Nawaz, were released.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pcb-invites-bids-for-multan-sultans-franchise-ahead-of-psl-11" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Multan Sultans</a>&nbsp;took the boldest route, opting for zero retentions. As a result, marquee players such as Mohammad Rizwan, Usama Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Mohammad Hasnain will all enter the auction, with the franchise heading in with a full purse of $1.6 million.&nbsp;PSL 11 auction The <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/psl-governing-council-approves-sweeping-player-auction-model-for-season-11" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">PSL&rsquo;s first-ever auction</a> will be held on Feb. 11 and comes ahead of a historic expansion of the league from six to eight teams. Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz will make their debut in PSL 11. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 947px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2015403911864303842&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=2c33c371487d07e8c8e629e0532d2a728993df1e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/psl-auction-hyderabad-franchise-sells-for-a-record-61-million" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hyderabad franchise</a>&nbsp;was acquired by Fawad Sarwar for approximately $6.25 million, while Hamza Majeed secured ownership of Sialkot Stallionz with a winning bid of around $6.6 million.&nbsp;The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League is set to begin on March 26 and will run until May 3, with the auction expected to reshape team combinations ahead of the expanded season.

Haris Rauf celebrates after taking Babar Azam's wicket in a PSL 10 encounter.

Cricket

Entering the auction pool is a high-risk, high-reward situation for players. While strong demand can lead to higher prices, shifting team needs and limited budgets can result in a player going unsold. 

Big retentions, high-profile releases ahead of PSL 11 auction

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday formally invited bids for the sale of franchise team rights of Multan Sultans ahead of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).&nbsp;In an advertisement published in newspapers, the PCB called on &ldquo;interested parties&rdquo; to bid for the Multan-based franchise, describing it as an opportunity to become part of what it termed a &ldquo;new era&rdquo; of the PSL.&nbsp;The board said Multan Sultans, which joined the league in its third edition in 2018, has developed an established fan base and a strong presence in the competition, making it a &ldquo;compelling opportunity&rdquo; for potential investors to build on its legacy.&nbsp;Under the bidding process, interested parties are required to obtain bid documents from the PCB. The deadline for submission of technical proposals has been set for Jan. 30, 2026, at 3:00pm, with proposals to be opened on the same day.&nbsp;The PCB said only technically qualified bidders would be allowed to proceed to the next stage of the process. It added that official information regarding the bidding would only be shared through its designated email address.&nbsp;The development follows recent remarks by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who said the board would continue to operate Multan Sultans during the upcoming PSL 11 season before completing the sale.&nbsp;Speaking at the ceremony held for the auction of the league&rsquo;s seventh and eighth franchises last week, Naqvi said the franchise had been labelled as loss-making, a perception he was determined to challenge by demonstrating its commercial potential before the auction.&nbsp;The invitation for bids comes at a time of rapid expansion for the PSL. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/psl-auction-hyderabad-franchise-sells-for-a-record-61-million" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hyderabad and Sialkot</a> were recently confirmed as the league&rsquo;s newest franchises following a record-breaking auction, taking the competition to eight teams for the first time.&nbsp;The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League is scheduled to be held from March 26 to May 3, 2026, with the expanded format expected to deliver a longer and more competitive tournament for fans across the country.

Calls on “interested parties” to bid for the Multan-based franchise, describing it as an opportunity to become part of what it termed a “new era” of the PSL.

Articles tagged with "Multan Sultans"

Big retentions, high-profile releases ahead of PSL 11 auction

PCB invites bids for Multan Sultans franchise ahead of PSL 11