itstargetnews
a historic first Pakistan Super League (PSL) The auction officially ended on February 11 in Lahore, marking a sea change in the T20 franchise landscape. Although Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 With several world-class stars snubbed at the auction in Abu Dhabi, the PSL side wasted no time in securing the elite talent on the back of two new expansion teams. From big-name veterans to fast bowlers, the IPL’s ‘unsold’ list has actually become the ‘superstars’ list for the upcoming Pakistan Super League season.
List of players who were not sold in IPL 2026 but were selected in the PSL auction
PSL expands to eight teams (including new teams) Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Aces) created a huge vacuum of international quality which, surprisingly, was filled by players who did not find takers in the IPL. While IPL teams prioritize uncapped players and specific role players within India, PSL teams tend to draw on proven international experience. The table below highlights the key players who were unsold in the IPL 2026 auction but were successfully acquired (often for huge sums) during the PSL 2026 auction and direct signing window:
Players IPL 2026 and PSL 2026 Status
| player | IPL 2026 Status | PSL 2026 Team | Category/Signature Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | Unsold (2 Cr) | sialkot stallion | Ceiling (direct signature) |
| Darryl Mitchell | Unsold (2 Cr) | rawalpindi team | Auction (PKR 8.05 Cr) |
| Devin Conway | Unsold (2 Cr) | islamabad united | direct signature |
| Michael Bracewell | Unsold (2 Cr) | peshawar zalmi | Auction (PKR 4.20 Cr) |
| Spencer Johnson | Unsold (1.5 Cr) | Quetta Gladiators | direct signature |
| Riley Meredith | Unsold (1.5 Cr) | hyderaba kings | Auction (PKR 4.20 Cr) |
| Ashton Turner | unsold | sialkot stallion | Auction (PKR 4.20 Cr) |
| Richard Gleason | Unsold (7.5 million) | islamabad united | Auction (PKR 1.10 Cr) |
| darsang shanaka | Unsold (7.5 million) | Qalandhar, Lahore | Auction (PKR 7.5 million) |
Also read: Multan Sultans quit PSL: Renamed Rawalpindi announces new owners and record sale price
A ‘new era’ for Pakistan Super League (PSL)
The PSL 2026 season has officially rewritten history. Not only did it succeed in bridging the gap for international stars who missed out on the IPL, but it also changed the basic structure of the league to enable it to compete on a global scale. The 2026 season marks the most significant evolution in the league’s ten-year history, featuring the expansion from six to eight teams.
Added Sialkot Stallion and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen (along with Multan Sultan Rawalpindi) brought new capital and strategic depth to the game. For the first time, the league abandoned its traditional draft system in favor of a live player auction, allowing teams to engage in high-stakes bidding wars.
The transformation broke a domestic record Naseem Shah Becoming the most expensive homegrown player at Rs 865 crore, new franchises were given a ‘direct overseas signing’ wildcard to secure a global icon like this Steve Smith (Sialkot) and Marnus Labuschagne (Hyderabad) before the bidding begins. With more matches, new venues like the historic stadium in Sialkot and the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, and an almost doubled salary cap to accommodate world-class talent, PSL 2026 has positioned itself as the ultimate alternative to the IPL for the world’s elite cricketers.
*notes*: While there are 79 unsold players in the IPL, 56 of them are Indian players (such as Deepak Hooda, Prithvi Shaw and Mahipal Lomror). Indian players are not playing in the PSL due to BCCI regulations. That’s why you only see overseas players on the list making transfers.
Also read: Shubman Gill’s close friend Agni Chopra responds to PSL registration rumours
