Peshawar Zalmi Lock Babar Azam as PSL 11 Retentions Take Shape

Peshawar Zalmi have announced their player retention for the Pakistan Super League season 11, with star batter Babar Azam once again forming the backbone of the franchise. The confirmation came on Tuesday through the team’s official social media platforms, accompanied by a visually engaging animated poster.

“Locked in and confirmed. Here’s the Yellow Storm shaping up for #HBLPSL11,” read the caption shared by the franchise, signaling the start of preparations for the upcoming season.

Babar Azam has been retained in the Platinum category, reaffirming Zalmi’s trust in his leadership and batting consistency. However, the new auction framework has seen several changes, including the release of opening batter Saim Ayub.

Saim Ayub Released Under New Auction Framework

Saim Ayub, who joined Peshawar Zalmi during the 2022 season, has been released ahead of the auction. During his time with the franchise, Ayub featured in 33 matches and scored 860 runs at an impressive strike rate of 152.48, making notable contributions at the top of the order.

Despite his performances, the revised retention rules have limited franchises to four players, resulting in tough selection decisions across teams.

Other Retained Players Announced

Alongside Babar Azam, Peshawar Zalmi have secured three more players in different categories. Sufiyan Muqeem has been retained in the Diamond category, Abdul Samad continues with the team in Gold, while Ali Raza has been named in the Emerging category. These selections complete Zalmi’s allowed quota under the PSL 11 retention regulations.

PSL Shifts to Auction System

The Pakistan Super League is set to adopt an auction-based system for the first time, replacing the long-standing draft format. Under the updated structure, franchises are restricted to one retained player per category.

Additionally, previous provisions such as mentors, brand ambassadors, and the Right to Match option have been completely removed. The Pakistan Cricket Board has implemented these changes to simplify squad formation and promote competitive balance ahead of the auction.

PSL 11 Host Cities and Start Date

The upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League 11 will begin on March 26, 2026. Faisalabad will make its debut as a host city, joining Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, taking the total number of venues to five.