PSL 2026: Steve Smith signed by new team after T20 World Cup 2026 snub
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
PSL 2026 will begin on March 26.
Australian Cricket Team batter Steve Smith was recently snubbed from the squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The right-handed batsman could not find a spot in the Australia squad despite an impressive form in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26.
Smith was part of the Sydney Sixers in BBL 2025-26, which finished as the runners-up in the tournament. With 299 runs in six games at a stunning average of 59.80, Smith finished as the leading run-scorer for the side. At a superb strike rate of 167.97, he also slammed a century and two half-centuries.
The veteran Australian batter announced his retirement from ODI cricket in March last year to focus on Tests and T20Is. While he is a crucial member of Australia’s test team and also featured in The Ashes 2025-26, he aims for a comeback to the shortest format. He last played a T20I match for Australia in February 2024 against New Zealand.
Steve Smith picked by Sialkot Stallionz in PSL 2026
Smith is all set to feature in the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2026). This will be his maiden season in the tournament. New franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, signed him directly ahead of the auction.
Notably, PSL 2026 is all set to witness a player auction for the first time. Moreover, two more teams will be added to the tournament, making it an eight-team competition. Sialkot Stallionz and Kingsmen Hyderabad are the two new franchises.
Ahead of the auction, all eight teams have been allowed to sign four players directly into their squad. Hence, Sialkot have captured the senior Australian batter in their squad. The PSL 2026 auction will take place on February 11, while the tournament will take place from March 26 to May 3.
Although Smith has been out of Australia’s T20I team for almost two years, he has been quite active in franchise leagues.
He has extensive experience in the Big Bash League (BBL), Indian Premier League (IPL), The Hundred, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Last year, he went unsold in the IPL 2026 auction.
Smith has an impressive record in T20 cricket. In domestic and franchise T20 cricket, he has featured in 272 matches, scoring over 6,200 runs at a strike rate of over 131. This also includes 30 half-centuries and five centuries.
Steve Smith has been signed by which team in PSL 2026?
Sialkot Stallionz signed Steve Smith for PSL 2026.
Steve Smith played for which team in BBL 2025-26?
Steve Smith played for the Sydney Sixers in BBL 2025-26.
When will PSL 2026 start?
PSL 2026 will begin on March 26.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.