Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has secured a lucrative contract in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 player draft, signing for Rawalpindi Express at a fee of PKR 3 crore.
The 23-year-old all-rounder emerged as one of the most sought-after overseas players during Wednesday’s draft proceedings, with Rawalpindi prevailing in a competitive bidding contest against Karachi. His acquisition underlines the growing value of Bangladesh’s young cricketers in franchise T20 competitions.
Rishad had featured for Lahore Qalandars in the previous PSL season, delivering a series of impressive performances with both bat and ball. However, the franchise opted not to retain him ahead of the new campaign, making him available in the draft pool and sparking immediate interest among rival teams seeking a specialist leg-spinner.
He entered the draft in a category with a base price of PKR 1.1 crore, a group that included 22 Bangladeshi players. As bidding intensified, his price climbed sharply before settling at PKR 3 crore, nearly tripling his base value.
The PSL 2026 draft began at 12:30 Bangladesh time and featured 903 registered players from around the world, including 53 cricketers from Bangladesh. All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the first Bangladeshi name to be announced but did not attract a franchise bid. Liton Das also remained unsold.
Three experienced Bangladesh players—Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Zakir Hasan—were placed in the highest base price bracket of PKR 2.2 crore. Franchises assessed their squad combinations carefully as they sought to balance international experience with emerging talent under the league’s salary structure.
The Pakistan Super League operates a structured draft system rather than an open auction. Players are divided into categories such as Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver and Emerging, each with predetermined salary ranges set by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Teams are required to build balanced squads across these categories while adhering to retention rules and overseas player limits.
Since its inception in 2016, the PSL has established itself as one of the leading T20 leagues in world cricket. The competition regularly attracts prominent international names while providing a platform for developing players from across South Asia and beyond. Its commercial growth and competitive standard have increased its appeal to overseas cricketers, particularly those from neighbouring cricketing nations.
For Rishad, the move represents another step forward in his career. Known for his attacking leg-spin and ability to contribute useful runs down the order, he is regarded as a versatile T20 option. Rawalpindi are expected to utilise his spin bowling as a key component of their middle-overs strategy in the 2026 season.
The PSL 2026 fixtures are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks, with matches set to be staged across major venues in Pakistan.
