Steve Smith has been one of the best cricketers in world cricket. The veteran Australian cricketer was amazing in the Ashes series as he captained the team against England and won the series 4-1. Smith was last seen in the Big Bash League (BBL) for Sydney Sixers. He played 6 matches, scored 299 runs at an average of 59.80 for the Sixers and was the highest run-scorer for the team.
Smith scored one century and two half-centuries in the tournament. He joined mid-season and also helped his team qualify for the finals, but lost to the Perth Scorchers. Steve Smith, who remained unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, has now joined Pakistan Super League (PSL)’s newest franchise Sialkot Stallions. This is the first season when he will participate in this league.
Steve Smith will be the captain of the Sialkot based franchise?
Steve Smith was signed directly by the Sialkot-based team ahead of the PSL’s inaugural player auction on Wednesday, February 11. This news comes just weeks after the Sialkot Stallions were officially announced as one of the PSL’s two new franchises. Smith’s addition could be crucial for the franchise as he can lead the team in the upcoming PSL season as well.
Steve Smith has the experience of playing around 272 T20 matches, in which he has scored 6,242 runs at an average of 32.68 and strike rate of 131.38, which includes five centuries and 30 half-centuries. With his experience the new franchise can change things and even win the championship. As per the rules of PSL 11, each franchise is allowed to directly sign one foreign player who was not included in PSL 10.
OZ Developers created history in the auction
The rights to the team are in the hands of OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan. This was announced during the PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Center on January 8. OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of Rs 1.85 billion, which proved to be the most expensive bid to purchase a franchise in PSL history.
Tim Paine named head coach of Sialkot Stallions
Sialkot Stallions had previously signed former Australian captain Tim Paine as their head coach. The announcement came via Stallionz’s social handles with an animated poster. “We are proud to announce Tim Paine as the head coach of the It said, “Former Australian captain. Proven leader at the highest level. A championship mentality to lead a new era. Welcome to the Stallions family, Coach.”
Paine has prior coaching experience, as he took over the coaching duties of the Adelaide Strikers and was later named as the Australia A coach for three series in the second half of 2025. He was appointed as a consultant for the Australia A men’s series as well as the Australia women’s team, while continuing to coach the Strikers. The PSL is scheduled to start on March 26, 2026.
Also read: Steve Smith included in Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad as standby option
