PSL Squads: How the 8 Teams Are Built (Retentions to Auction)
A PSL squad is a carefully balanced machine — Pakistani core, foreign firepower, emerging talent. This guide explains how the 8 franchises assemble their squads each season, from retentions through the auction to the final playing XI.
Quick answer: PSL squads are built in three steps: teams retain a core of players, then fill the rest through the auction (replacing the old draft since 2026) across platinum, diamond, gold and silver categories, plus emerging picks for young Pakistani talent. Each squad mixes local stars with international signings.
The 3 Steps
- 1. Retentions: each franchise keeps a core of players — usually its captain and stars. Lahore kept Shaheen Afridi; Peshawar kept Babar Azam.
- 2. Auction: remaining slots are filled by bidding (the draft system was retired in 2026). Teams manage salary-cap budgets across categories.
- 3. Final squad: around 18–20 players per team, blending Pakistani and overseas talent, with emerging picks for development.
Auction Categories
- Platinum: the marquee names — Babar, Shaheen, top foreign stars.
- Diamond: established internationals and first-choice locals.
- Gold: solid professionals and specialists.
- Silver: domestic performers and squad depth.
- Emerging: young Pakistani players — the PSL’s talent pipeline (many current stars debuted here).
Example: The PSL 11 Final XIs
Peshawar Zalmi (champions): Mohammad Haris, Babar Azam (c), Kusal Mendis, Michael Bracewell, Abdul Samad, Aaron Hardie, Iftikhar Ahmed — Hardie’s all-round show (4/27, 56*) won the final. Hyderabad Kingsmen: Saim Ayub, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Glenn Maxwell, Usman Khan, Kusal Perera, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed. Notice the formula both finalists followed: Pakistani core + foreign match-winners.
More: all 8 PSL teams · star players · draft & auction.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How are PSL squads selected?
Teams retain a core of players, then fill remaining slots through the auction (since 2026) across platinum, diamond, gold and silver categories, plus emerging picks for young Pakistani talent.
How many players are in a PSL squad?
Around 18–20 players per franchise, mixing Pakistani and overseas players within the league’s roster rules.
What replaced the PSL draft?
The player auction — introduced in PSL 11 (2026) alongside the expansion to eight teams.
