Six franchises participating in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 have officially announced their player retentions, providing the first clear picture of squad cores ahead of the league’s highly anticipated player auction.
Under the new PSL auction model, teams are allowed to retain up to four players, with one player per category, making retention decisions more strategic than in previous seasons.
Below is a complete team-by-team breakdown of the retained players and what each franchise is aiming to build ahead of the new season.
Lahore Qalandars Retained Players
Lahore Qalandars have opted for continuity by retaining a strong mix of leadership, batting stability, and all-round strength.
Retained Players:
- Platinum: Shaheen Shah Afridi — The franchise’s pace spearhead and one of the league’s most influential bowlers.
- Diamond: Abdullah Shafique — A reliable top-order batter who adds consistency to Lahore’s batting lineup.
- Gold: Sikandar Raza — An experienced all-rounder offering power-hitting and spin options.
- Silver: Mohammad Naeem — A young batter retained for squad depth and future development.
The Qalandars’ retentions reflect a strategy focused on pace dominance and batting stability while keeping room for targeted auction picks.
Peshawar Zalmi Retained Players
Peshawar Zalmi have built their retained core around star power and emerging talent.
Retained Players:
- Platinum: Babar Azam — The team’s premier batter and one of PSL’s most consistent run-scorers.
- Diamond: Sufyan Moqim — A promising spin option who adds balance to the bowling attack.
- Gold: Abdul Samad — A powerful middle-order batter known for his finishing ability.
- Emerging: Ali Raza — A young prospect retained to strengthen Zalmi’s long-term squad planning.
Zalmi’s selections indicate a blend of experience and youth, with flexibility left for aggressive auction strategies.
Quetta Gladiators Retained Players
Quetta Gladiators have focused on bowling strength and squad versatility.
Retained Players:
- Platinum: Abrar Ahmed — The team’s primary spin weapon and a key match-winner.
- Diamond: Usman Tariq — A versatile all-round option contributing in multiple roles.
- Gold: Hasan Nawaz — A dependable batting option providing middle-order stability.
- Emerging: Shamyl Hussain — A young talent retained for future squad development.
Quetta’s approach centres on spin dominance and balanced squad roles ahead of the auction.
Islamabad United Retained Players
Islamabad United have chosen a lean retention strategy, keeping flexibility for the auction.
Retained Players:
- Platinum: Shadab Khan — Senior all-rounder and central figure in United’s setup.
- Gold: Salman Irshad — A fast bowler offering pace and wicket-taking ability.
- Silver: Andries Gous — Wicketkeeper-batter providing depth and overseas experience.
United have retained three players, leaving one retention slot unused as they plan to strengthen the squad through auction selections.
Karachi Kings Retained Players
Karachi Kings have retained a mix of experience and emerging pace talent.
Retained Players:
- Platinum: Hasan Ali — Veteran fast bowler and one of the most successful wicket-takers in PSL history.
- Diamond: Abbas Afridi — A young pace bowler with proven strike ability.
- Gold: Khushdil Shah — A middle-order batter known for power hitting.
- Emerging: Saad Baig — A rising talent retained for squad depth.
The Kings’ retentions suggest a focus on pace bowling and middle-order power.
Multan Sultans Opt for Complete Reset
Unlike other franchises, Multan Sultans have chosen not to retain any players ahead of PSL 2026.
The decision allows Multan to enter the auction with a full purse, signalling a complete squad rebuild under the new auction-based system. Analysts view this as a high-risk, high-reward strategy.
Retention Rules for PSL 2026
Under the updated PSL framework:
- Teams may retain up to four players
- Only one player per category is allowed
- The traditional draft system has been replaced by an auction-based model
The changes are aimed at increasing competitiveness and ensuring a more balanced distribution of talent across franchises.
What Comes Next
With retentions confirmed, attention now shifts to the PSL 2026 player auction, where franchises will fill remaining squad slots.
Fans can expect intense bidding as teams look to address weaknesses and build championship-ready squads ahead of the new season.