Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) newest franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, has officially announced its first set of retained players ahead of the PSL 11 player auction scheduled for February 11.
The franchise confirmed four key retentions as part of its early squad strategy. All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has been retained in the Platinum category for Rs. 61.6 million, making him one of the franchise’s top picks. Salman Mirza has been secured in the Diamond category for Rs. 39.2 million, while Ahmed Daniyal joins the squad in the Gold category for Rs. 22.4 million. Emerging talent Saad Masood has been retained in the Emerging category with a deal worth Rs. 8.4 million.
With PSL 11 franchises reportedly allocated an overall budget of Rs. 450 million for squad formation, Stallionz have already committed Rs. 131.6 million through these retentions. The remaining budget will be utilized strategically during the upcoming player auction.
In one of the biggest early signings of the season, Sialkot Stallionz recently confirmed the acquisition of former Australian captain Steve Smith as a direct signing. The franchise announced the move via its official social media platforms, adding a high-profile international star to its lineup.
Smith brings extensive T20 experience, having featured in major global leagues including the Big Bash League (BBL), The Hundred, Indian Premier League (IPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Further strengthening their setup, Stallionz appointed former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine as head coach on January 29. Paine has represented Australia in 35 Tests and 35 ODIs and previously captained the national Test side. His leadership and international exposure are expected to provide strategic depth to the team ahead of their debut season.
Sialkot Stallionz are owned by OZ Developers, led by Hamza Majeed, who secured the franchise rights during the PSL expansion auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8. The ownership group won the bid for the Sialkot team with an impressive offer of Rs. 1.85 billion, marking a significant investment as the PSL enters its new expansion phase.
