Steven Smith will turn out in the Pakistan Super League for the first time this spring after agreeing a two-year deal with new franchise Sialkot Stallionz.
The 36-year-old, overlooked by Australia in T20 internationals since 2024, arrives on the back of an outstanding Big Bash campaign for Sydney Sixers: 299 runs, average 59.80, strike-rate 167.97, one hundred, two fifties. He opened with Babar Azam for much of the competition, and the pair are expected to reprise that partnership in Pakistan.
Sialkot are one of two expansion teams for the PSL’s 11th edition and were purchased by Pakistani-Australian property investor Hamza Majeed for roughly PKR 1.85 billion a year (around USD 6.55 million) – the highest fee on the circuit. Majeed moved quickly once the league approved a single “direct signing” per side outside February’s main auction.
Former Test skipper Tim Paine, appointed head coach last week, welcomed the news on X: “One of the all time great players is a PSL Stallionz! Huge for our franchise and the PSL T20.”
Under the revised regulations each club has a PKR 450 million auction purse, rising to 505 million if the direct slot is used. Squads must contain 16-20 players, with five-to-seven overseas names and at least one uncapped local under 23.
The full auction takes place on 11 February; the season begins 26 March and ends with the final on 3 May. All contracts run for two years, covering both retained and newly bought cricketers.
Though Smith’s international T20 prospects remain uncertain, his availability for the entire PSL window appealed to Sialkot’s management. A team official said simply that they wanted a “reliable top-order run-maker who still changes matches”.
For the league, meanwhile, landing a player of Smith’s stature should help reinforce the shift from draft to auction. Administrators believe the new model will widen the talent pool and, crucially, allow franchises more certainty when negotiating with high-profile names.
The Stallionz still have most of their roster spots open and must balance a clear Australian influence with local depth. “Building chemistry in a brand-new side is the priority,” a back-room staff member acknowledged, “and that means getting the mix right at the auction.”
Smith is expected in Pakistan a week before the tournament for the franchise’s pre-season camp.
