Abrar Ahmed Headlines Four Retentions as PSL Shifts to Auction-Based System
Quetta Gladiators have officially announced their retained players for the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11), locking in their core squad ahead of the league’s first-ever player auction, scheduled for February 11.
PSL 11 is being billed as a landmark edition, with the league introducing a revamped squad-building system. For the first time in PSL history, franchises will assemble their teams through an auction-based model, replacing the draft format used in previous seasons.
Revised Retention Rules for PSL 11
The retention framework has also undergone a major overhaul. During the first 10 seasons, teams were allowed to retain up to eight players. Under the updated PSL 11 regulations, franchises can now retain only four players, distributed across categories — forcing tougher decisions ahead of the auction.
Quetta Gladiators’ Retention Pool
Ahead of the retention deadline, Quetta Gladiators had 14 players listed across multiple categories:
- Platinum: Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed
- Diamond: Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Tariq
- Gold: Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Hassan Nawaz, Danish Aziz
- Silver: Ali Majid
- Emerging: Mohammad Zeeshan, Shamyl Hussain
Confirmed Retentions for PSL 11
From this pool, the Gladiators opted to retain the following four players:
- Platinum: Abrar Ahmed
- Diamond: Usman Tariq
- Gold: Hassan Nawaz
- Emerging: Shamyl Hussain
The franchise did not retain any player from the Silver category, leaving flexibility to address that slot during the auction.
With the auction approaching and the league expanding its competitive landscape, Quetta Gladiators’ retention strategy highlights a focus on emerging talent and key performers as they prepare for PSL 11.
