Steve Smith (Source:X)In a significant development, the Pakistan Super League's newest franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, has reportedly signed Australian star batter Steve Smith through a direct deal.According to journalist Qadir Khawaja, the signing was completed before the PSL's first-ever player auction, which is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11. This would make Smith one of the biggest overseas names to ever join the PSL without going through the auction process.Steve Smith becomes Stallionz' direct signing for PSL 11Under the updated PSL 11 regulations, expansion teams like Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad are allowed to directly sign up to five players. One key condition is that the player must not have featured in PSL 10, a clause that made Steve Smith eligible. Smith has never played in the PSL before, making this move even more significant.According to reports, Steve Smith chose Sialkot Stallionz after being impressed by the franchise's offer and its professional management setup. The direct signing shows the Stallionz’s clear intent to build a competitive squad right from their debut season.A statement signing for a record-breaking franchiseThe Sialkot Stallionz are already a historic addition to the PSL. The franchise was purchased by OZ Developers, led by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, for a record PKR 1.85 billion per year, making it the most expensive franchise in PSL history.With such a massive investment, expectations are naturally high. Signing a global star like Steve Smith fits perfectly with the Stallionz’ ambition to make an immediate impact in the league.The team has also adopted an Australian-inspired leadership model. Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine has been appointed as head coach, while Pakistan veteran Shoaib Malik is expected to take on a coaching role.Steve Smith arrives in Red-Hot Form in PSLSteve Smith arrives in Pakistan on the back of an outstanding run in the 2025/26 Big Bash League with the Sydney Sixers. In just six matches, Smith scored 299 runs at an impressive average of 59.80 and a remarkable strike rate of 167.97.He also added another milestone to his career by scoring one of the fastest centuries in BBL history, reaching the hundred in just 41 balls. The star player currently holds the joint record for the most BBL centuries, with four tons to his name.While Smith is widely known for his dominance in Test cricket, his recent performances have shown that he remains a dangerous T20 batter.Overall, he has played 272 T20 matches, scoring 6,242 runs at an average of 32.68, with five centuries and 30 half-centuries. The Australian star player has played 67 T20I matches, 1094 runs at an average of 24.86 and a strike-rate of 125.45.It is important to note that by securing Smith through a direct deal, Sialkot Stallionz have bypassed the auction drama and locked in a world-class player within their $1.6 million salary purse. His presence will instantly boost the franchise's credibility and add serious star power to the tournament.
