Steve Smith Set To Make PSL Debut After Memorable BBL Season, To Turn Up For New Team Sialkot Stallionz

Steve Smith is all set to participate in the Pakistan Super League for the first time in his career as he is set to play for Sialkot Stallionz in the upcoming 11th edition of the tournament. Stallionz, one of the two franchises debuting in 2026, unveiled Smith as the tournament's first direct signing.

The PSL is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3. The announcement of Smith's was officially announced on the team’s social media platforms, which was deleted soon after. As per PSL's rules, each team can secure one player through direct signing, and the Stallionz opted to bring in the experienced Australian batter.

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While the 36-year-old Smith hasn't played for Australia's T20I side in two years, he will be heading into the PSL on the back of an incredible batting form in the shortest format. He had a memorable outing in the recently concluded Big Bash League season and helped his team, the Sydney Sixers, reach the final, where they suffered a defeat against the Perth Scorchers. He scored 299 runs in the tournament, averaging just under 60 at a strike rate of 167.97, scoring a century and two fifties.

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Interestingly, Stallionz were bought by Hamza Majeed, a Pakistani-Australian real estate magnate, paying a franchise fee of PKR 1.85 billion a year (USD 6.55 million), the highest of all eight sides. Last week, former Australian captain Tim Paine was announced as the side's head coach for 2026. "One of the all-time great players is a PSL Stallionz!", Paine posted on X. "Huge for our franchise and the PSL T20."

The full auction for the upcoming PSL season is scheduled to take place on February 11, the first time squads will be filled in this way instead of a draft. All the teams will be allowed to stock between 16 and 20 players, with five to seven overseas signings allowed.

Australia's veteran batter Steve Smith went unsold at the IPL auction, and rumours suggested that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was eyeing the Aussie batter as a replacement for banned Mustafizur Rahman.