The Sialkot Stallionz PSL 11 squad is starting to take form as the franchise confirmed its retained players ahead of the upcoming season. The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League will run from March 26 to May 3.
The franchise announced four retentions before the official player auction scheduled for February 11.
Sialkot Stallionz retained Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, and Saad Masood. Nawaz was signed in the Platinum category, earning Rs61.6 million.
Salman Mirza was picked in the Diamond category with a contract worth Rs 39.2 million. Ahmed Daniyal joined under the Gold category for Rs22.4 million, while Saad Masood was selected from the Emerging category for Rs8.4 million.
Budget position ahead of PSL auction
For PSL 11, franchises have been allotted a total auction budget of Rs 450 million. With the four retentions, Sialkot Stallionz have spent Rs131.6 million so far. This leaves the franchise with significant flexibility as they head into the February 11 auction to strengthen their squad.
Earlier, the Stallionz confirmed the direct signing of former Australia captain Steve Smith. The announcement was made through the franchise’s official social media platforms.
Smith brings extensive T20 experience, having featured in major leagues including the Big Bash League, The Hundred, the IPL, the BPL, and the CPL. His signing is considered one of the biggest moves ahead of the season.
Tim Paine appointed head coach
On January 29, Sialkot Stallionz appointed former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine as head coach. Paine represented Australia in 35 Tests and 35 ODIs and also captained the national Test side.
The franchise believes Paine’s leadership and international experience will help build a competitive unit in their debut season.
Read: Peshawar Zalmi retain Babar Azam ahead of PSL 11 auction
Sialkot Stallionz are owned by OZ Developers, led by Hamza Majeed. The group secured the franchise during a high-profile auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.
After FKS Group acquired the first new franchise with a bid of Rs1.75 billion, OZ Developers won the Sialkot team with a Rs1.85 billion bid and named it after the historic city.
The addition of Sialkot Stallionz marks a major expansion in PSL history. Multan Sultans were previously the league’s first expansion team, increasing the number of teams from five to six.
With two new franchises joining for PSL 11, the league will now feature eight teams, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan’s premier T20 competition.
