The Pakistan Super League (PSL) made history on Wednesday as it held its first-ever player auction, replacing the traditional draft system. The auction took place at the Expo Centre in Lahore, where eight teams, including new franchises Sialkot Stallions and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, completed their squads for PSL 11. The tournament will be played from March 26 to May 3. Teams were allowed to retain only four players, so franchises spent heavily to rebuild their squads, with many players crossing PKR 80 million (approx ₹2.4 crore).

According to media reports, the new franchise Sialkot Stallions signed Steve Smith through a direct signing. The team confirmed the deal on social media, marking Smith’s first appearance in the Pakistan Super League. Reports say he was signed for PKR 140 million (approx ₹4.2 crore), making him the most expensive player in PSL history.

Other top signings also grabbed attention during the auction. Saim Ayub was retained for PKR 126 million (approx ₹3.8 crore), while Naseem Shah was picked for PKR 86.5 million (approx ₹2.6 crore). Faheem Ashraf went for PKR 85 million (approx ₹2.5 crore), and Daryl Mitchell was signed for PKR 80.5 million (approx ₹2.4 crore). The auction has set a new financial benchmark for the league.

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Here is the list of the Top 5 Most Expensive Players of PSL 2026:

1. Steve Smith – PKR 140 million (approx ₹4.2 crore)

Australian star batter and former captain Steve Smith has become the most expensive player in PSL history. According to media reports, the new franchise, Sialkot Stallions, signed him through a direct deal. The team confirmed the signing on social media. This will be Smith’s first appearance in the Pakistan Super League. Reports say he was signed for PKR 140 million (approx ₹4.2 crore). This makes him the costliest player in the league’s history and sets a new record for PSL contracts.

2. Saim Ayub – PKR 126 million (approx ₹3.8 crore)

Pakistan’s young star Saim Ayub became one of the most expensive players in PSL 2026 yesterday. The Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen signed him for a record amount during the auction. The franchise showed strong faith in the talented batter by making a big investment. Yesterday, he was signed for PKR 126 million (approx ₹3.8 crore). This made him one of the highest-paid players this season and one of the biggest deals in PSL history.

3. Naseem Shah – PKR 86.5 million (approx ₹2.6 crore)

Fast bowler Naseem Shah became one of the most expensive players in PSL 2026 yesterday. He was the costliest bowling option in the auction. The Rawalpindi franchise showed strong trust in his pace and match-winning ability. Yesterday, he was signed for PKR 86.5 million (approx ₹2.6 crore). This made him the most expensive bowler of the season and one of the top deals in the auction.

4. Faheem Ashraf – PKR 85 million (approx ₹2.5 crore)

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf also attracted a big bid in the PSL 2026 auction yesterday. He was among the top picks as teams looked for experienced players who can contribute with both bat and ball. The franchise showed confidence in his all-round skills. Islamabad United signed him for PKR 85 million (approx ₹2.5 crore). This deal made him one of the highest-paid all-rounders of the season.

5. Daryl Mitchell – PKR 80.5 million (approx ₹2.4 crore)

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell also received a strong bid in the PSL 2026 auction yesterday. Rawalpindi signed him to strengthen their middle order and add experience to the squad. The team showed trust in his ability to perform in big matches. He was bought for PKR 80.5 million (approx ₹2.4 crore). This made him one of the top foreign signings of the season.

Pakistan turned the easy chase against the Netherlands during the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo with regular wickets as the pressure nearly got the better of the opposition. The Asian side lost five wickets for only 16 runs in five overs as Faheem Ashraf found himself in the middle with Shaheen Afridi. 

Logan van Beek came to the bowl in the penultimate over of the innings as the first ball of the over was smashed with full over the wide mid-wicket region by Faheem Ashraf, who was dropped on the very next delivery. The southpaw swung the willow and got the ball low off the bat, where Max O’Dowd made a mess of the catch.

See Also: Watch: Paul Van Meekeren bowls double-wicket maiden over during PAK vs NED T20 World Cup 2026 clash

The third ball was nailed by the all-rounder over the mid-off region as the ball sailed over the ropes for a maximum. Two balls later, it was another massive six, the third over the over, as the batter stood tall and launched it high and deep into the stands at mid-wicket for a massive 89-meter six.

Faheem Ashraf smashes 24 runs in PAK vs NED T20 WC 2026 

The last delivery of the over was punched across the field, behind the wicket-keeper for a boundary as Pakistan nearly finished the chase with 22 runs off the over. The winning boundary also came from Ashraf, who thumped the ball wide of cover for a winning boundary and remained unbeaten on 29 runs in just 11 balls with two fours and three sixes.

Watch the video here: 

@StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/K0A4GPMtpC

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) February 7, 2026

Earlier in the game, the Netherlands posted a decent score of 147 in 19.5 overs as their captain, Scott Edwards, thumped 37 runs in 29 balls at a strike rate of 127.59, with the help of three boundaries and one six. Bas de Leede got 30 runs in 25 balls.

With the ball, Salman Mirza ended as the peak of the bowling unit with three wickets for 24 runs in 3.5 overs, while all of Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub, and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 148/7 (Sahibzada Farhan 47, Paul van Meekeren 2/20) beat Netherlands 147 (Scott Edwards 37, Salman Mirza 3/24, Saim Ayub 2/7) by 3-wickets.

India didn’t make a great start with the ball during the final of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium against Pakistan, where they gave away an 84-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. However, they made a brilliant end in the middle overs of the innings and got the last nine wickets for 33 runs.

Chasing the target, the eyes for the Indian side were on Abhishek Sharma, who had been in tremendous form during this event with three successive half-centuries. Many reckoned that even Pakistan could get Abhishek early, then the rest of the batting department would fall like a pack of cards.

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Shaeen Shah Afridi bowled a fine over to the left-handed batter inside the power play. The second ball was smashed through the cover-point for a boundary before he was beaten on the third ball. The left-handed batter couldn’t do well in the last four balls, and that created incredible pressure on him to break free for the second over.

Watch: Faheem Ashraf breaks India’s opening stand with Abhishek Sharma’s wicket during IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 final

On the opening ball of the second over, Faheem Ashraf came into the attack. He bowled a slow delivery outside the batter’s arc as Abhishek looked to take the ultra-aggressive route and nail the ball outside the rope. But he didn’t get the full elevation and was caught on the edge of the ring by Haris Rauf for five runs in six balls.

FAHEEM ASHRAF RANA STRIKES, ABHISHEK SHARMA GONE!!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qTlrT7I4wR

— PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) September 28, 2025

Apart from the top three, no one got into the double figures for the Pakistan side in the batting line-up. All of Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy picked up two wickets while Kuldeep Yadav bagged four wickets in his spell of four overs for 30 runs.

India, along with Abhishek, also lost their captain Suryakumar Yadav, for 10 runs in the third over, and found themselves under immense pressure in the brief chase during the second innings. Both the opening bowlers picked up a wicket each from the Indian innings.

During the Super 4 encounter in the Asia Cup 2025 between India and Pakistan on September 21, Shubman Gill dropped a simple catch at key stage. The moment came in the 18.5 over when Faheem Ashraf mistimed a big shot off Jasprit Bumrah at deep mid-wicket. Gill was in the right place but looked casual and failed to hold on. Ashraf got two runs, and it was the fourth dropped catch by India in the innings, showing their poor fielding in this high-pressure game.

Pakistan, after being asked to bat first, scored 171/5 in their 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan was the star with a solid 58 from 45 balls after the early wicket of Fakhar Zaman. Despite losing a few wickets, Pakistan made sure they finished well, taking full advantage of India’s mistakes in the field.

For India, the bowlers had mixed results. Hardik Pandya bowled with good control and took 1/29 in three overs. Shivam Dube picked up two wickets but gave away 33 runs. Bumrah was not at his best and went wicketless for 45 runs in four overs. Kuldeep Yadav got 1/31, while Varun Chakaravarthy kept things tight with 0/25.

Pakistan Finish at 171/5, India Chase 172

Farhan and Saim Ayub gave Pakistan a strong base with a 72-run stand for the second wicket. India’s spinners slowed the scoring rate in the middle overs, but Salman Agha and Faheem Ashraf lifted the innings at the end. Ashraf’s unbeaten 20 off 8 balls, including a last-ball six, pushed Pakistan to a strong total.

Quota player Shubman Gill dropped another simple catch.🤡#ShubmanGill #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/5zTqWH1rGW

— 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧 ⁴⁵ ♛ (@ROHITHEGOAT45) September 21, 2025

See Also: [WATCH] Shivam Dube dismisses Sahibzada Farhan for 58 during IND vs PAK Super 4 clash of Asia Cup 2025

At the innings break, India need 172 runs from 120 balls to win. Live update: India require 172 in 20 overs.