PSL Players Auction Kicks Off: Historic First‑Ever Auction Sees Big Bids, Surprises & Unsold Stars، The Pakistan Super League (PSL) players auction — the first in PSL history — is currently underway at the Expo Centre in Lahore, marking a historic shift from the traditional draft system to an open, competitive bidding process as franchises build their squads for Season 11.
Read More: Here Are the Rules for the PSL 11 Player Auction
This landmark psl players auction comes as the league expands to eight teams — with the introduction of Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallionz — and nearly 880 players registered for selection, including both local and foreign talent.
Auction Structure & Rules
- The auction replaces the old draft system, allowing teams to openly bid for players across five categories: Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, and Emerging.
- Franchises have a budget cap of PKR 45 crore for auction picks, with an additional PKR 5.5 crore set aside for direct overseas signings.
- Each squad must consist of 16 to 21 players, including a mix of local stars and foreign talent, and at least two uncapped U‑23 players must be part of every squad.
Top Auction Picks So Far
Several players have already been snapped up by franchises during the live psl players auction:
- Mark Chapman — Sold to Islamabad United for PKR 7 crore
- Abdullah Fazal — Rawalpindi picks him for PKR 67.5 lakh
- Irfan Khan Niazi — Hyderabad Kingsmen secure him at PKR 2.9 crore
- Haseebullah Khan — Lahore Qalandars pay PKR 1.1 crore
- Kusal Perera — Hyderabad Kingsmen sign him for PKR 3.1 crore
- Mohammad Amir — Rawalpindi secure him for PKR 5.4 crore
- Fakhar Zaman — Lahore Qalandars get him at PKR 7.95 crore
- Naseem Shah — Rawalpindi buys for PKR 8.65 crore
- David Warner — Karachi Kings splash PKR 7.9 crore on the veteran
- Faheem Ashraf — Islamabad United lands him at PKR 8.5 crore
Big Names & Unsold Players
Not all marquee names found buyers in early rounds:
- Imad Wasim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tymal Mills, James Vince, George Munsey and many others went unsold — a notable twist in these live auction proceedings.
Fan & Market Reaction
The psl players auction has generated intense fan engagement, with bidding wars, surprising unsold veterans, and fresh talent being snapped up rapidly. Social chatter on Reddit and fan forums highlights enthusiasm and debate over squad strategies and emerging stars.
What It Means for PSL 11
The introduction of the auction format is a major evolution in PSL, expected to:
- Boost transparency in player valuation and team building.
- Give players a wider market and higher earning opportunities.
- Intensify competition with strategic bidding across local and international talent pools.
As bidding continues and squads take shape, fans can expect more dramatic moments and player price breakthroughs throughout this historic psl players auction.
