New Delhi: The first-ever player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was held in Lahore on Wednesday, February 11. Fast bowler Naseem Shah became the most expensive player in the auction. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf was the second most expensive player in the PSL auction.
From this season, the league will have eight franchises competing for the title, with Sialkot, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi-based team (yet to be named) joining the existing six teams – Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators.
Each franchise had been allocated a total budget of PKR 45 crore for building the squad. After the retentions and direct signings, Islamabad United entered the auction with a remaining purse of PKR 34.60 crore.
Karachi Kings had PKR 32.26 crore, while Rawalpindi also retained PKR 34.60 crore. Lahore Qalandars had PKR 31.36 crore left in the purse, and Peshawar Zalmi entered the auction with PKR 27.96 crore, and Quetta Gladiators had PKR 27.54 crore.
The two new franchises, Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, headed into the auction with PKR 23.34 crore and PKR 21.94 crore, respectively. Each franchise was allowed to retain up to four players ahead of the auction. The minimum squad size was 16 players, and the maximum was 20.
Top 10 most expensive players in PSL auction
Nassem Shah became the most expensive player of the auction, after the pacer was signed by Rawalpindi for massive PKR 8.65 crore. Faheem Ashraf was bought by Islamabad United for PKR 8.5 crore, while Daryl Mitchell was also picked by Rawalpindi for PKR 8.05 crore.
Karachi Kings signed David Warner for PKR 7.9 crore, whereas Lahore Qalandars picked Fakhar Zaman for PKR 7.95 crore and Haris Rauf for PKR 7.6 crore. Mark Chapman joined Islamabad United for PKR 7 crore, and Khawaja Nafay was bought by Quetta Gladiators for PKR 6.5 crore. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha was signed by Karachi Kings for PKR 5.85 crore, and Sahibzada Farhan joined Sialkot Stallionz for PKR 5.7 crore.
| Rank | Player Name | Price (PKR Crore) | Team |
| 1 | Naseem Shah | 8.65 | Rawalpindi |
| 2 | Faheem Ashraf | 8.50 | Islamabad United |
| 3 | Daryl Mitchell | 8.05 | Rawalpindi |
| 4 | Fakhar Zaman | 7.95 | Lahore Qalandars |
| 5 | David Warner | 7.90 | Karachi Kings |
| 6 | Haris Rauf | 7.60 | Lahore Qalandars |
| 7 | Mark Chapman | 7.00 | Islamabad United |
| 8 | Khawaja Nafay | 6.50 | Quetta Gladiators |
| 9 | Salman Ali Agha | 5.85 | Karachi Kings |
| 10 | Sahibzada Farhan | 5.70 | Sialkot Stallionz |
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