NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Steve Smith has signed a contract with new Pakistan Super League (PSL) side Sialkot Stallionz for the 2026 season, which will be his first ever PSL appearance. The franchise confirmed the signing on Tuesday, bringing Smith in via the direct signing option allowed under league rules for overseas players who did not play the previous season.
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Sialkot Stallionz were recently announced as one of the two new PSL teams and Smith is expected to be central to their debut campaign. With his experience and leadership background, he could also be considered for the role of captain.Smith, who went unsold during the IPL mini-auction last December, last played competitive cricket in the Big Bash League with the Sydney Sixers, where he made an immediate impact despite joining mid-season. In just six matches, he scored 299 runs at an impressive average of 59.80, including one century and two half-centuries. Smith, playing alongside Babar Azam, finished as the Sixers’ top scorer and helped them reach the final, where they lost to the Perth Scorchers.Although Smith went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, his value in franchise cricket remains high. In 272 T20 matches, he scored 6,242 runs at an average of 32.68 and a strike rate of 131.38, including five centuries and 30 half-centuries.The Sialkot Stallionz have also strengthened their off-field set-up by appointing former Australia captain Tim Paine as head coach. Paine brings coaching experience from stints with the Adelaide Strikers and Australia A teams.The PSL 2026 season is set to begin on March 26 and the Sialkot Stallionz are all set to make their much-awaited debut.
