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PCB Finalizes PSL Player Categories, Caps Retentions Before First-Ever Auction

New rules limit teams to four retentions to reset competitive balance before the February 11 auction.

Overview

  • PCB confirmed category renewals for 89 local players, including five promotions to the Platinum tier: Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali and Abrar Ahmed.
  • Franchises can retain a maximum of four players with only one from each category, and the mentor, brand ambassador and Right to Match options have been removed.
  • The PSL moves from a draft to a player auction on February 11 as the league expands to eight teams with new franchises from Hyderabad and Sialkot.
  • Operational parameters include a USD 1.6 million team purse, squads of 16–20 players with up to five overseas signings, and a one-time direct signing for an overseas player who did not feature in PSL 10; overseas registration has been extended to February 3.
  • Category lists released ahead of retentions include 33 players in Gold, 16 in Silver and 14 in Emerging, setting up difficult decisions for teams such as Islamabad United, Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi under the one-per-category rule.