Silver, Gold categories released ahead of PSL 11 auction

These players are expected to attract strong interest during the auction.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced the list of players placed in the Silver and Gold categories ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 auction. A total of 16 players, including several well-known names, have been included in the Silver category.

Among the franchises, Multan Sultans have listed the highest number with six players in this category. Lahore Qalandars have named three players, while Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United have included two players each. Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings have listed one player each in the Silver category.

In the Gold category, 33 players have been named, featuring several cricketers who have represented Pakistan at the international level. These players are expected to attract strong interest during the auction.

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The PSL 11 auction, scheduled for February 11, will be historic as it marks the league’s transition from the traditional draft system to an auction-based model. This change has been introduced to improve competitive balance, increase transparency, and provide players with better earning opportunities.

Under the new system, each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of four players, with only one retention permitted per category.

This is a significant change from previous seasons, where teams could retain up to eight players and also benefit from options such as mentors, brand ambassadors, and the Right to Match (RTM) clause. For PSL 11, the PCB has completely removed the mentor, brand ambassador, and RTM options to simplify the team selection process.

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The two newly added franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, will receive special allowances, enabling them to select and retain four players from the pool before the auction begins. Additionally, every team will be allowed to directly sign one foreign player who did not take part in PSL 10, a move aimed at bringing fresh international talent into the league.

PSL 11 will begin on March 26, 2026, and will also mark Faisalabad’s first time hosting matches, alongside Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.