Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi Among Four Protected Players as League Enters Auction Era
Karachi Kings have officially announced their retained players for the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11), finalising their core squad ahead of the much-anticipated player auction.
The former PSL champions confirmed four retentions across different categories, in line with the revised retention rules introduced for PSL 11.
Karachi Kings’ Retained Players for PSL 11
- Platinum: Hasan Ali
- Diamond: Abbas Afridi
- Gold: Khushdil Shah
- Emerging: Saad Baig
The franchise opted not to retain any player in the Silver category.
Retention Pool and Selection
Ahead of the auction, Karachi Kings had 16 players listed across various categories. The Platinum category included captain David Warner alongside Hasan Ali, while Abbas Afridi and Shan Masood were part of the Diamond category.
The Gold category featured several notable names, including Aamer Jamal, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mir Hamza, Zahid Mahmood, Omair bin Yousuf, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Arafat Minhas, along with Khushdil Shah. Mirza Mamoon Imtiaz was placed in the Silver category, while Razaullah, Fawad Ali, and Saad Baig were listed as Emerging players.
From this pool, the Kings chose to retain Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, and Saad Baig as their four protected players ahead of the auction.
New Retention Rules and PSL Expansion
PSL 11 marks a significant shift in league regulations. While franchises were previously allowed to retain up to eight players during the first 10 seasons, the updated rules now permit only four retentions per team, spread across categories. The change has forced franchises to make more strategic decisions before entering the auction.
The upcoming season will also be historic as the Pakistan Super League expands from six to eight teams. Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz are the two new franchises set to make their PSL debut.
The Hyderabad franchise was secured by Fawad Sarwar for Rs 1.75 billion, while Hamza Majeed won the Sialkot Stallionz bid for Rs 1.85 billion.
PSL 11 Schedule
The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League is scheduled to begin on March 26 and will run until May 3, promising an expanded and highly competitive season.
