Franchises could retain up to eight players under the PSL draft in 2025, and up to four, one per category, at the PSL 11 auction in 2026. PSL 11 squads had 16 to 20 players, with 5 to 7 overseas players in the squad and three to four overseas players in each playing XI. The PCB has not said which retention limits apply to PSL 12.
Last checked 26 October 2026.
How did retention change from the draft to the auction?
| Rule | PSL 10 draft (2025) | PSL 11 auction (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Retained players | Up to 8 | Up to 4, one per category, by mutual agreement |
| New franchises | Not applicable | Could pre-select up to 4 players each |
| Right to Match, mentor and brand ambassador tools | Available | Abolished |
| Squad size | 16 to 20 | 16 to 20 (Multan allowed 22) |
| Contract length for new signings | Not checked | Two years |
Hyderabad Kingsmen retained three players rather than four, and the source does not say why. The retained players for each team are listed on the PSL 11 auction page.
What are the overseas and under-23 rules?
- Overseas players: 5 to 7 in the squad, and at least three and at most four in every playing XI.
- Uncapped players under 23: at least two in the squad and at least one in each playing XI. Our sources describe this as a PSL 11 rule.
- Direct signing: one overseas player who has not played in the previous PSL season, outside the purse.
In the PSL 10 draft, the rules required at least five overseas players among the first 16 picks, with up to two more in supplementary rounds.
How many players did franchises actually retain in PSL 11?
| Category | Players retained (of 8 franchises) |
|---|---|
| Platinum | 8 |
| Diamond | 7 |
| Gold | 8 |
| Silver | 2 |
| Emerging | 5 |
| Total | 30 |
Every franchise kept a Platinum and a Gold player, and only Islamabad United skipped Diamond. Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans, Karachi Kings and Rawalpindiz used all four slots; Hyderabad Kingsmen and Islamabad United used three. The counts are our tally of the retained-player list on the PSL 11 auction page.
What has been reported about future retention limits?
A Wisden report dated 26 January 2026 said teams could retain a maximum of seven players after PSL 11, and five after a grand auction following PSL 12. The PCB has since confirmed a PSL 12 auction on 23 January 2027, but has not published retention rules, so we treat those numbers as reported and unconfirmed. See the PSL 12 auction page, the auction rules guide and the player categories guide.