South African batter Rilee Rossouw has joined Quetta Gladiators for Rs. 5.50 crore during the PSL 11 players’ auction, which is taking place at Lahore’s Expo Centre this year.
Rossouw drew attention from multiple franchises before Quetta secured the experienced left-hander, known as one of T20 cricket’s most destructive middle-order batters.
The PSL 11 auction represents a major change in the recruitment model, with franchises bidding for players for the first time instead of using the traditional draft system previously followed.
The auction coincides with PSL expanding to eight teams, following the inclusion of Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, increasing competition among franchises to secure top players.
Quetta Gladiators, having retained a strong local core, focused on boosting their overseas contingent with experienced match-winners, and Rossouw’s signing provides power, experience, and flexibility for the franchise.
Under PSL 11 rules, squads must include 16 to 20 players, five to seven foreign cricketers, and mandatory Under-23 player quotas, with all auctioned players contracted for two seasons as standard.
Meanwhile, other notable moves include Karachi Kings retaining David Warner and Islamabad United acquiring Faheem Ashraf, reflecting the strategic decisions franchises are making ahead of the 2026 season.
