Steve Smith Becomes Most Expensive Player in PSL History as Sialkot Stallionz Sign Australian Star

KARACHI:Steve Smith has become the most expensive cricketer in HBL PSL history. The new franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, will pay him over Rs140 million, which is twice the amount Babar Azam receives.As per details, the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be held in March. This time, the PCB allowed each franchise to sign one foreign player directly, provided that the player was not part of last year’s PSL.

The new team, Sialkot Stallionz, has signed Australian star batter Steve Smith. Sources say he will be paid over 500,000 US dollars, which converts to more than Rs140 million, making him the highest-paid player in PSL history. Another franchise was also willing to offer him $500,000, but eventually, a deal was finalized with Sialkot.It should be noted that Babar Azam’s salary is Rs70 million, so Smith will be earning double that amount.Read: Nasser Hussain backs Pakistan and Bangladesh stance in T20 World Cup rowMeanwhile, with the inclusion of two new teams, the PCB has reduced the retention quota for old franchises from eight players to four, allowing them to retain one player from each of the four categories.Recently, the list of retained players was released, followed by the details of their salaries. Four out of five franchises have announced Rs7 crore as the salary for their platinum-category players, with others also receiving significant sums.

However, sources revealed that some cricketers are actually being paid more than the declared figures, though only the officially announced amounts will be shown on record.The addition of two new franchises this year has increased player demand, and many cricketers used offers from other teams to negotiate higher pay with their current franchises.Mutafizur joins QalandarsDefending champions Lahore Qalandars have roped in Bangladesh pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman as a direct signing for the PSL 11.The Bangladeshi star, originally picked by the Qalandars in 2016 and 2018, is now set to don the Qalandars’ colors once more. The signing was agreed at Rs6.44 crore.Read more: T20 World Cup to begin after chaotic build-up“Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar. Mustafizur is not just a player; he’s a brother, a key part of our family who never left,” said Sameen Rana, Owner, Lahore Qalandars. “We are thrilled to welcome him back to our dressing room. His talent, experience, and dedication will be invaluable as we aim to defend our title and make a statement in PSL 11”.Earlier, Qalandars had retained captain Shaheen Afridi, key batter Abdullah Shafique, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and skilled youngster Mohammad Naeem. This strategic move strengthens the team’s core ahead of the big auction and sets the stage for a strong campaign.With these signings, Lahore Qalandars aim to continue their legacy of excellence in PSL 11, determined to defend their title and give fans another season of high-quality cricket and unforgettable moments.