Rahmanullah Gurbaz withdraws from PSL 2026 after public fight with Naveen-ul-Haq

Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has opted out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026. The right-handed batter made the announcement just two days after Peshawar Zalmi picked him as a direct signing for the 11th edition of the T20 tournament ahead of the historic players auction.

Naveen-ul-Haq posted a cryptic message on Facebook following Gurbaz signing a contract for PSL 2026. Naveen, Gurbaz, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman had wanted to skip the PSL this season. The trio reportedly made the decision together, citing personal and professional reasons, and chose to remain united.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz Opts Out of PSL 2026 Due To...

In a video shared on his Instagram, Rahmanullah Gurbaz confirmed that he will not take part in PSL 2026. Gurbaz stated that he made the decision due to personal commitments and unfinished work related to his charitable foundation. After completing the World Cup, Gurbaz will return to Afghanistan.

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"I won't be available to play in the PSL this year. I have some personal commitments, and a large part of the work for my charitable foundation is still unfinished."

"Following a successful World Cup campaign, I’m planning to return to my beloved Afghanistan to personally oversee the foundation’s work so that I can better serve the people of Afghanistan."

"Thank you all so much for your love and support. May you remain happy and prosperous wherever you are. Please keep me in your prayers. Thank you."

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Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s T20 Journey

Rahmanullah Gurbaz played in the PSL across three seasons. He represented Multan Sultans in 2021 before moving to Islamabad United for the 2022 and 2023 editions. The right-handed batter scored 318 runs in 15 matches at an average of 22.71, including one half-century.

Gurbaz has been a regular for Afghanistan, representing the national side in two Tests, 52 ODIs, and 83 T20Is. He is known for his aggressive approach at the top of the order and his skills behind the stumps.

At the franchise level, the 24-year-old is among the most in-demand Afghan players worldwide. He has appeared in major leagues such as the IPL, BPL, CPL, SA20, and ILT20. Overall, Gurbaz has scored 6,244 runs in T20 cricket at an average of 24.97 and a strike rate of 145.00, including two centuries.

Overseas Players in PSL Auction at PKR 4.2 Cr Base Price

The Pakistan Super League is introducing a full auction system for the first time. The PSL 2026 player auction will be held on February 11, 2026, and has already attracted massive global interest.

A total of 879 overseas players from 24 countries have registered for the auction. Australia leads the list with 60 players, including David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner, and Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Under the new system, each franchise will have a budget of PKR 450 million to assemble their squad, along with an extra PKR 55 million set aside for direct signings.

Also read: 'T20 World Cup starts with upset’: Fans react as Pakistan snatch victory from jaws of defeat vs Netherlands