An Afghan cricket star has suddenly withdrawn from the Pakistan Super League’s 11th season (PSL 11), dealing a blow to Pakistan’s premier T20 competition ahead of its February player auction. The player pulled his name from the tournament just days after signing with a franchise.
According to social-media reports, Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq opted out of the PSL at the last minute, citing personal reasons. He later joined Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) instead.
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The abrupt exit follows broader uncertainty over Afghan participation in PSL 2026. Earlier reports indicated that several Afghan internationals — including Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen-ul-Haq and Mujeeb Zadran — were unlikely to register for the PSL draft, amid lingering political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Just days before his withdrawal, Peshawar Zalmi had announced the signing of Afghan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz ahead of PSL 11, triggering debate among fans because of the mixed signals about Afghan players’ involvement this season.
The absence of Afghan talent — many of whom are household names in franchise cricket — could weaken the overseas contingent in PSL’s upcoming season. Afghan players have been key performers in past editions, often drawing interest because of their pace, power hitting, and spin bowling skills.
The Pakistan Super League’s franchise auction is scheduled for February 11, 2026, with teams scrambling to finalise their squads.
Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz publicly confirmed his withdrawal from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 just days after signing as a direct pick for Peshawar Zalmi. He said personal commitments and unfinished charity work in Afghanistan were behind his decision, according to Cricket Addictor
Reports indicate Gurbaz, fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, and spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman initially agreed to skip PSL this season together. Sources say their decision stemmed from personal and professional reasons, and the trio wanted to present a united front.
Social media posts and reports suggest internal disagreement erupted between Kabul teammates when Gurbaz later signed a PSL contract but then reversed his decision. Naveen-ul-Haq shared a cryptic post on Facebook that many interpreted as criticism of Gurbaz’s change of stance.
These withdrawals come against the backdrop of wider tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Late in 2025, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) pulled the national side out of a Pakistan tri-nation T20 series in protest after a deadly airstrike in Paktika Province killed several young Afghan cricketers and civilians. Players and officials condemned the incident, with team members expressing sorrow and outrage.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan publicly removed his PSL franchise — Lahore Qalandars — from his bio on social media in protest against the airstrike, a symbolic move that fuelled speculation about Afghan players’ PSL participation.
There are widespread claims online — though not all independently verified in mainstream media — that heightened political tensions led some players or the ACB to discourage Afghan participation in the PSL or other overseas leagues. That includes unconfirmed reports of restrictions from the ACB itself.
PSL franchises have yet to issue major statements about Afghan withdrawals specifically, but the rapid changes have forced them to rethink foreign player strategies ahead of the February 11, 2026 auction.
Franchise selectors are believed to be monitoring the situation closely, given that Afghan players — especially Gurbaz, Mujeeb, and Naveen — are typically high-demand T20 assets in global leagues. Their absence could affect squad balance and fan engagement.
Some unofficial fan threads and forums suggest that if Afghan players opt out or are effectively unavailable, PSL franchises might shift focus to other international stars or re-engage with talent from leagues like the Bangladesh Premier League, IPL, or emerging markets.
Online fan forums and social posts reflect mixed reactions. Some Pakistan fans focus on cricket decisions, while others tie the issue to larger geopolitics. A few grassroots threads even debate hypothetical bans, though such claims aren’t confirmed by official boards.
