IPL Leaves PSL Helpless, Snatches Away 10 Overseas Stars Ahead of 2026 Season

The IPL and the PSL windows will clash for the second consecutive time. The ICC T20 World Cup scheduled in the February-March window has forced the PSL to shift to the same window as that of the IPL from March to May. IPL teams have now drafted several key players from the PSL in yesterday's mini-auction.

For the first 9 seasons in the Pakistan Super League, the PCB kept the league limited to the pre-IPL window to attract more players to the league. This was because PSL offers much less money and hype than the IPL, which has now reached a global standard.

However, Mohsin Naqvi was forced to shift the PSL in the same window as that of the IPL the last season since the PCB hosted the ICC Champions Trophy in the February window. This time around, their participation in the ICC T20 World Cup has delayed the proceedings.

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Former PSL Stars bought in massive bids in IPL mini-auction

Ahead of the start of the IPL mini-auction, the PSL received some good and exciting news as several promising former cricketers, like Faf du Plessis, opted out of the IPL to make their way into the PSL.

Faf du Plessis ended his years-long streak in the IPL and moved to the PSL after being released by the Delhi Capitals, ahead of the mini-auction. He mentioned exploring some of the other leagues.

Similarly, former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who also played in the IPL representing Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the past, left the IPL to join the PSL. However, the most interesting development was that several players of PSL's interest have been picked in the IPL mini-auction.

Some of them went for some fancy amount of money, like Jason Holder and Ben Dwarshuis, who were not bought just for their base prices.

List of Cricketers from PSL who have been picked for IPL 2026

This list comprises several players who were part of the Pakistan Super League in the previous season but have been picked for IPL franchises in this season, and hence, the players would now be in a dilemma as to which league they should prioritize.

The IPL undoubtedly offers more money and more hype, and learning, while the PSL offers these players cricketing action, which is often not offered to them as they get shadowed by the presence of big names in the IPL.

The list follows:

10. Luke Wood

The English left-arm pacer has played in the IPL before, but was never seen as a proper starting XI player. He then switched sides to the PSL, where he starred for Peshawar Zalmi and had the spotlight for some time.

The Gujarat Titans have picked the English left-arm seamer at this IPL mini-auction at his base price of INR 75 lakh. The English pacer is now part of Ashish Nehra's pace attack, which already comprises some reliable options like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna.

9. Tim Seifert

New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert played for the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League season 10, and the New Zealand batter was later a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad as a backup for English player Phil Salt.

This season, he has been drafted into the Kolkata Knight Riders camp. Seifert might actually be offered gametime in the KKR camp, as they will need an opener as well as a wicket-keeper, and considering Finn Allen's less experience as a gloveman, Seifert seems a more reliable choice.

8. Adam Milne

Another Kiwi star who was also part of the Karachi Kings has been picked by the Rajasthan Royals as their only overseas player in this auction. The Royals picked many pacers, and Milne was one among them.

The Rajasthan Royals picked him at 40 lakhs, greater than his base price, as the player went for INR 2.40 crores.

7. Finn Allen

Finn Allen was one of the finest batters in the PSL last season and played a decent hand for the Quetta Gladiators. The opening batsman from New Zealand was drafted in as a wicket-keeper batter by the Kolkata Knight Riders.

He was picked at his base price of INR 2 crore in the auction, and was one of the 6 overseas players the Kolkata Knight Riders picked in the mini-auction and the third Kiwi player as well.

6. Akeal Hosein

West Indies all-rounder spinner and Finn Allen's teammate in the Quetta Gladiators side, Akeal Hosein, went to the Chennai Super Kings, as the Men in Yellow looked in the quest for one of Noor Ahmed's backups.

The left-arm spinner is known to have made significant contributions with the bat as well and was bought at his base price of INR 2 crore.

5. Kyle Jamieson

Another Kiwi star, pacer Kyle Jamieson, was drafted into the PSL with the Quetta Gladiators; however, the lanky pacer often has a record of missing out on leagues due to injuries. He had replaced an injured Lockie Ferguson for the PBKS last season.

After being ignored initially, the tall, fast bowler was picked by the Delhi Capitals in the final round of the accelerated auction. Delhi Capitals picked him at his base price of INR 2 crore.

4. Jordan Cox

England's Jordan Cox came into the limelight with his antics in the Hundred with the Oval Invincibles side and then starred for Islamabad United in the PSL in 2025. Cox was picked in the accelerated auction by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for his base price of INR 75 lakh; he probably was included as a backup for Phil Salt.

3. Matt Short

Matt Short, the Australian batter, was picked as an all-rounder by the Chennai Super Kings. Short has formerly played for the Punjab Kings in the IPL, but then missed out on the last season and turned to the PSL to represent Islamabad United.

He has been picked for his base price of INR 1.5 crore by the Chennai Super Kings.

2. Ben Dwarshuis

Marking an end to the base price draws in the mini-auction, the two remaining players have been bought for a whopping price in the auction. The Australian left-arm pacer has been picked by the Punjab Kings for INR 4.40 crore, after his base price was INR 1 crore.

He had previously played for Islamabad United in the PSL season 10.

1. Jason Holder

One of the most significant and among the top 10 most expensive buys of the IPL mini-auction, Jason Holder was not only bought for a whopping sum of INR 7 crore by the Gujarat Titans but was also toughly fought for by the Chennai Super Kings.

The West Indies all-rounder has played several seasons of the IPL before moving to the PSL, where he too represented the Islamabad United side. Holder is surely a massive snatch from the clutches of the PSL.

ALSO READ: IPL 2026 Auction Full List: All Sold and Unsold Players With Team-Wise Prices