South African middle-order batter Rilee Rossouw has joined Quetta Gladiators for Rs5.5 crore during the ongoing 2026 Pakistan Super League 11 auction at Lahore’s Expo Centre venue.
Rossouw attracted interest from multiple franchises before Quetta secured the experienced left-hander, recognized for his destructive batting in T20 cricket and his ability to change games quickly in the middle order.
The PSL 11 auction introduces a major change in player recruitment, as franchises bid for athletes for the first time instead of relying on the traditional draft system previously used.
This year’s auction coincides with PSL expanding to eight teams, including Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, intensifying competition among franchises to secure top-performing players for the upcoming season.
Read More: PSL 11: Stallionz Secure Farhan and Core Retentions
Quetta Gladiators, having retained a strong local core, focused on enhancing their overseas contingent, with Rossouw’s signing providing power, experience, and flexibility to strengthen the team’s batting lineup for PSL 11.
Under the PSL 11 rules, squads must include between 16 and 20 players, with five to seven foreign cricketers and mandatory Under-23 player quotas, while all auctioned players sign two-season contracts.
Other notable moves include Karachi Kings retaining David Warner and Islamabad United acquiring Faheem Ashraf, reflecting strategic decisions franchises are taking to balance local talent and experienced international players for 2026.
The combination of retained players and high-profile international signings like Rossouw highlights the changing dynamics of PSL 11, with franchises aiming to field competitive squads under the league’s new auction system.
