Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Source:X)In a recent development, Peshawar Zalmi have made an early and high-profile move ahead of the PSL 11 season by directly signing Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The announcement was made on Thursday, just days before the historic PSL 2026 players auction scheduled for February 11.Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi confirmed the signing through social media, welcoming Gurbaz into the “Zalmi family."Peshawar Zalmi signs Rahmanullah Gurbaz before PSL 11 AuctionThe franchise also shared an official poster showing the Afghan cricketer wearing a traditional turban, with mountains in the background. The image featured the Pashto phrase “Pakhair Raghlay”, meaning welcome.In their caption, Peshawar Zalmi praised Gurbaz's all-round impact, calling him explosive with the bat, sharp behind the stumps, and a high-energy fielder. Although the franchise did not disclose the financial details, the timing strongly suggests Gurbaz has been brought in as a marquee direct signing."We are proud to confirm the direct signing of Afghanistan's star wicketkeeper-batter, [Rahmanullah Gurbaz]," the franchise captioned the post."Explosive with the bat. Lightning-fast behind the stumps. A gun fielder with extraordinary energy. A warm welcome to the Zalmi Fam," it added.Gurbaz's experience and role in PSL 11 squadRahmanullah Gurbaz is a familiar face for PSL fans. The aggressive batter has previously represented Islamabad United and Multan Sultans. Across three PSL seasons, he has played 15 matches and scored 318 runs at a strike rate of 159.79 and an average of 22.71.The 24-year-old has been a key player for Afghanistan since his debut in 2019. He has represented his country in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, and is currently part of Afghanistan's T20 World Cup 2026 squad, with the tournament starting on February 7.In the T20I format, the star player has played 83 matches and scored 2139 runs at an average of 25.77 and a strike rate of 134.02.Other notable names retained by Peshawar ZalmiKnown for his fearless batting in the power play, Gurbaz gives Zalmi an attacking option at the top of the order. He is expected to play alongside Pakistan star Babar Azam, who remains the face of the franchise. Zalmi have also retained Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad and Ali Raza across different categories.Platinum Category – Babar AzamDiamond Category – Sufiyan MuqeemGold Category – Abdul SamadSilver Category – None retainedEmerging Category - Ali RazaRahmanullah Gurbaz's anti-Pakistan Tweet resurfacesRahmanullah Gurbaz's signing with Peshawar Zalmi has sparked mixed reactions among the fans. Soon after the announcement, an old anti-Pakistan tweet by the Afghan cricketer resurfaced on social media, triggering debate and criticism. Even Naveen-ul-Haq makes an indirect attack on his teammate and shares a post on his Facebook.The tweet dates back to October 2025, following a tragic incident in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, where three young club cricketers were killed in a military airstrike. Gurbaz, along with other Afghan players, publicly expressed grief and anger at the time.Rahmanullah Gurbaz @RGurbaz_21 انالله واناالیه راجعون په ډیرې خواشينی سره مو خبر ترلاسه کړ چې د پکتیکا ولایت د ارګون ولسوالۍ کې خدای نا ترسه هیواد زمونږ د هیواد څو لوبغاړي په ش.هادت رسولي دي. له لوی رب نه ورته جنت الفردوس غواړم او متعال رب دې زمونږ د هیواد ابدي دښمنان ذلیله کړي امین یارب العالمین Oct 18, 2025, 3:20 AM The Afghanistan Cricket Board described the incident as a cowardly attack and held the Pakistani regime responsible, which led to serious diplomatic and sporting tensions.
