Young all-rounder Saim Ayub has created history by becoming the most expensive Pakistani player ever in the Pakistan Super League, overtaking established stars such as Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi ahead of the Pakistan Super League auction.
The newly formed PSL franchise Hyderabad secured Saim Ayub for a massive Rs. 12.6 crore, reflecting his soaring value in T20 cricket. Among all players signed so far, only Australia’s Steve Smith fetched a higher price, after being picked up by Sialkot Stallionz for Rs. 14 crore.
Saim’s rise is particularly striking given that he entered the auction after being released by Peshawar Zalmi, who opted to retain Babar Azam in the Platinum category instead. Despite that, Saim attracted fierce interest from multiple teams, underlining his growing stature.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC men’s T20I all-rounder rankings, Saim Ayub was already one of the most sought-after names in the auction pool. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him a priority target, prompting Hyderabad to spend heavily.
Alongside Saim Ayub, Hyderabad have strengthened their squad by signing Usman Khan, Akif Javed, and Maaz Sadaqat. The franchise has also added international firepower by directly signing Marnus Labuschagne, who is set to be one of their marquee overseas players.
With PSL 11 moving fully to an auction-based system and franchises limited to just four retentions, competition has intensified significantly. Saim Ayub’s record-breaking signing has already emerged as one of the defining stories of the new PSL cycle, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested season.
