Shaheen Afridi Leads Retained Core as Franchises Finalise Squads for February 11 Auction
Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have officially announced their retained players ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 player auction, set to take place on February 11, 2026.
The franchise placed a total of 13 players in its initial retention pool across various categories. However, from the available list, Lahore Qalandars chose to retain four key players, focusing on experience and balance as they prepare for the league’s first full auction-era season.
Lahore Qalandars’ Retained Players for PSL 11
- Platinum: Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Diamond: Abdullah Shafique
- Gold: Sikandar Raza
- Silver: Mohammad Naeem
Notably, the Qalandars did not retain any player in the Emerging category, leaving room to explore young talent during the auction.
Earlier, Lahore’s broader retention pool included star names such as Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan, Asif Ali, and Mohammad Akhlaq, but the franchise opted for a more selective approach ahead of the auction.
Other Franchises Announce Retentions
Lahore’s announcement comes as other PSL teams also lock in their core players:
- Karachi Kings retained Hasan Ali (Platinum), Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold), and Saad Baig (Emerging), while leaving the Silver category vacant.
- Quetta Gladiators confirmed Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hassan Nawaz (Gold), and Shamyl Hussain (Emerging), also opting not to retain a Silver-category player.
- Peshawar Zalmi, according to reports, have retained Babar Azam in the Platinum category, with Sufiyan Muqeem also believed to be among their retained players.
With teams finalising their strategies and squad cores, anticipation continues to build ahead of the February 11 auction, which is expected to shape the competitive landscape of PSL 11.
The Pakistan Super League 2026 is scheduled to begin on March 26 and will run until May 3, promising another action-packed season of top-tier T20 cricket.
