Naseem Shah becomes PSL 11's most expensive player in star-studded auction

Lahore (Web Desk): The opening and historic player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), held at the Expo Centre, sent shockwaves through the cricketing world as franchises spent aggressively to secure top talent.

In the first phase of bidding, Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers attracted multi-million-rupee deals, while several high-profile international and domestic stars surprisingly went unsold.

Pace spearhead Naseem Shah emerged as the most expensive player of the auction so far, snapped up by Team Rawalpindi for Rs 86.5 million. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf followed closely, joining Islamabad United for Rs 85 million.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell was secured by Team Rawalpindi for Rs 80.5 million, further strengthening their lineup. Fakhar Zaman was picked by Lahore Qalandars for Rs 79.5 million, while Australian batting icon David Warner signed with Karachi Kings for Rs 79 million.

Lahore Qalandars also retained their faith in Haris Rauf, who was acquired for Rs 76 million. Salman Ali Agha rounded out the list of top earners, moving to Karachi Kings for Rs 58.5 million.

The auction’s biggest surprises came in the form of notable players who failed to find buyers. Former Pakistan captain and seasoned all-rounder Imad Wasim went unselected, raising eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity.

Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was also overlooked. Experienced campaigners Colin Munro of New Zealand and England’s Chris Jordan did not attract bids, and young Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain similarly remained without a franchise.

Among the franchises making early moves, Sialkot Stallions made a strong statement by acquiring Sahibzada Farhan for Rs 57 million. Karachi Kings bolstered their batting firepower by securing both David Warner and Salman Ali Agha, signaling clear intent ahead of the new season.

With the high-profile additions of Naseem Shah and Daryl Mitchell, Team Rawalpindi has emerged from the opening round as one of the most formidable sides on paper.

In the presence of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, it was also officially announced that PSL matches will be staged in Peshawar this season, marking a significant expansion of the tournament’s footprint.