Tag: Sialkot Stallionz

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, has officially been rebranded as Multan Sultans following a majority takeover by CD Ventures, PSL CEO Salman Naseer confirmed on Tuesday.

The development was announced during a joint press conference in Lahore attended by Naseer, franchise owner Hamza Majeed and CD Ventures chief Gohar Shah.

CD Ventures has acquired a majority stake in the franchise, originally purchased by OZ Developers for Rs 1.85 billion during the PSL auction in January.

Naseer revealed that following the latest developments, the franchise’s valuation has now increased to Rs 2 billion annually.

“Gohar Shah requested to change the franchise’s name after becoming CEO, and that request has been accepted,” Naseer said. “Sialkot Stallionz will now compete as Multan Sultans.”

Majeed described the arrangement as a strategic partnership approved by both the PCB and the PSL.

“With PCB and PSL’s approval, this strategic partnership has been finalised,” Majeed said. “CD Ventures’ Gohar Shah is now our strategic partner and will serve as the franchise’s CEO going forward.”

He praised Shah’s enthusiasm, adding, “Gohar Shah’s passion and drive are even greater than mine. Seeing his energy makes me happy, and I welcome him to our league.”

Speculation had surrounded the Sialkot franchise in recent weeks amid reports that OZ Developers had offloaded a significant portion of their shares after one of their partners withdrew shortly after the PSL auction.

There were also unverified claims of financial trouble within the parent company, which Majeed publicly denied last week, confirming only that talks with CD Ventures were ongoing.

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Speaking at the press conference, Gohar Shah confirmed he has officially joined the franchise as CEO and expressed his desire to restore South Punjab’s representation in the league.

“A stallion alone cannot win the PSL. To move forward, a stallion needs a sultan, and we have come as Sultans,” he remarked.

He added that retaining the Multan identity was important to him.

“It was my wish that the name Multan Sultans remain, and for me it was necessary,” he added.

Shah outlined his broader cricketing vision, stating that he has named it “Total Cricket.”

“Cricket should be played in a way that serves Pakistan cricket’s needs. In my opinion, the squad selected is correct. Final decisions on the playing XI and other matters will be taken once the camp begins,” he said.

Despite the name change, Majeed assured Sialkot supporters that their backing would not be forgotten.

“We are grateful to Sialkot Stallionz fans for their encouragement,” he said. “There will still be an element of the Stallionz identity visible in our campaign.”

He also confirmed that transport arrangements will be made for Sialkot fans to attend Multan Sultans matches during the season.

The rebranding marks a significant shift ahead of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, which is scheduled to commence on March 26 across five venues in the country.

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LAHORE: Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Sialkot Stallionz owner Hamza Majeed rejected reports suggesting that OZ Developers had gone bankrupt after securing the team for Rs 1.85 billion.

Speculation surrounding the franchise intensified in recent weeks, with claims circulating that the parent company had offloaded as much as 98 per cent of its shares following the withdrawal of one of its partners soon after the PSL auction.

The controversy deepened when co-owner Mohammad Shahid, in a video statement, alleged that his Alpha Sports Group now holds a 76 per cent stake in the franchise and accused Majeed of transferring shares without prior consent or approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Subsequent media reports went further, claiming that OZ Developers was facing bankruptcy and that the franchise would be taken over by CD Ventures.

Addressing the matter at a press conference in Lahore, Majeed dismissed the allegations in unequivocal terms, insisting that he had met all financial commitments to the PCB.

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, on 15th January, I submitted all my financial obligations to PCB. There is also the allegation that I am bankrupt, that I don’t have money,” Hamza Majeed said.

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Questioning the basis of the reports, he added, “Did PCB tell you that I am in default? Did any bank tell you that I am in default? PCB has submitted the bank guarantee of my first year’s franchise fee.”

Majeed further revealed that he has provided a three-year corporate guarantee to the board, assuring his capacity to fulfil the financial requirements over the agreed period.

“On top of it, there is a three-year corporate guarantee. I have confirmed that I am capable of paying it for three years. I can do it,” he stressed.

Calling the claims damaging and unfounded, Majeed described the bankruptcy narrative as a “baseless allegation” that unfairly questioned his credibility and financial standing.

He also expressed disappointment over what he termed misinformation being circulated on social media and urged media outlets to verify facts with relevant authorities before publishing such reports.

Regarding the reported involvement of CD Ventures, Majeed confirmed that discussions are ongoing but refrained from disclosing details, citing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between the parties.

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The Pakistan Super League (PSL) new franchise Sialkot Stallionz has expanded their squad to 19 members with the addition of three domestic players following the player auction held on February 10 in Lahore.

The outfit confirmed the signings in a statement that included the players’ details.

“Sialkot Stallions have included Mohammad Shehzad, Arshad Iqbal, and Nisar Khan in their squad,” it said.

“All three players have signed contracts worth PKR 6 million each with the franchise and will represent Sialkot Stallions in the upcoming season,” Stallionz added.

“The inclusion of these players will further strengthen the team’s batting and bowling departments. Following these new signings, Sialkot Stallions’ squad for HBL PSL now consists of 19 players.”

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Among the notable inclusions is all-rounder Mohammad Shehzad, who went unsold in the auction.

Shehzad posted on social media about his frustration at not being selected in the auction, questioning why he could not secure a place on a team.

“Hey, hope [you] all are good, 10 months before I was the Player of the Tournament in President’s Trophy,” Shahzad posted on his Instagram handle.

He emphasized his domestic performance over the past year, noting that he was also outstanding performer in the Hong Kong Super Sixes.

“I’m the second highest wicket taker in the tournament of Hong Kong Super Sixes and was part of Emerging Asia Cup winning team, [but] unfortunately I did not get opportunity to play,”

“Now I’m unsold in PSL auction. I can’t fit in 100 players? Really?,” he questioned.

For the unversed, PSL 11 will kick off on March 26 across five cities of Pakistan.

Sialkot Stallionz Squad for PSL 11

Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Steve Smith, Jahanzaib Sultan, Sahibzada Farhan, Ashton Turner, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Phillippe, Shan Masood, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Shahzad, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Arshad Iqbal, and Nisar Khan

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Australia-based Alpha Sports Group on Monday decided to partner with OZ Group, which bought the newly inducted Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Sialkot Stallions at the league’s team auction held on January 8.

Alpha Sports Group is Australia’s largest wholesale distributor of sports medicine, physiotherapy, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and first aid products.

The Group has acquired a 75 per cent stake in Sialkot Stallions.

Following the partnership, Alpha Sports and OZ Group will work together on the franchise’s overall growth, team formation, and performance improvement.

Following the announcement, Alpha Sports Group expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that both partners will aim to build Stallionz into a strong, competitive team.

It is worth noting that both Alpha Sports Group and OZ Group are based in Australia and hold prominent positions in the sports management and investment sectors.

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The new partnership is being termed a positive and welcome development for the PSL’s upcoming seasons, with the move generating fresh excitement among Sialkot Stallions fans.

For those unware, the development came just weeks after Sialkot Stallionz were officially introduced as one of the two new franchises ahead of the PSL 11.

The team’s ownership rights were acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of Rs 1.85 billion, making it the most expensive franchise purchase in PSL history.

The eighth team, PSL 11, is set to start on March 26 across five venues in the country.

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The Pakistan Super League (PSL) new franchise Sialkot Stallionz has revealed their four signed players including all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz, ahead of the league’s historic auction, scheduled for February 11.

The new outfit Stallionz has selected four players — Mohammad Nawaz (Platinum), Salman Mirza (Diamond), Ahmed Daniyal (Gold), and Saad Masood (Emerging).

The announcement was made via Stallionz’s social media handles.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. Welcome Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood to the Stallionz,” the caption of the post read.

Nawaz was signed in the Platinum category for a salary of PKR 61.6 million, while Salman, who was picked in the Diamond category, secured a deal worth PKR 39.2 million.

Daniyal was acquired in the Gold category for PKR 22.4 million, whereas Saad, selected from the Emerging category, will earn PKR 8.4 million.

For the forthcoming auction, franchises have been allocated a total purse of PKR 450 million. Stallionz have already spent PKR 131.6 million on their retained players.

Earlier, the outfit also roped in Australian ace batter Steve Smith as a direct signing for PSL 11. Notably, Smith has never appeared in the PSL.

Besides, Smith Stallionz had earlier appointed former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine as their head coach.

Paine, who hung up his boots from professional cricket in March 2023, represented Australia in 35 Tests, the same number of ODIs, and 12 T20Is.

Among his 35 Tests, 23 of them came as captain after taking the reins of the team following the Sandpaper Gate.

The development came just weeks after Sialkot Stallionz were officially introduced as one of the two new franchises in the PSL.

The team’s ownership rights were acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of Rs 1.85 billion, making it the most expensive franchise purchase in PSL history.

The eighth team, PSL 11, is set to start on March 26 across five venues in the country.

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The Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) newest franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, have reportedly secured the services of former Australia captain Steve Smith ahead of the 11th edition of the marquee league, sources told on Tuesday.

According to reliable sources, Smith has been directly signed by the Sialkot-based outfit before the PSL’s first-ever player auction, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 11.

The development comes just weeks after Sialkot Stallionz were officially introduced as one of the two new franchises in the PSL.

The team’s ownership rights were acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of Rs 1.85 billion, making it the most expensive franchise purchase in PSL history.

The Stallionz had earlier appointed former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine as their head coach, and sources suggest Smith will now play under his former international teammate in PSL 11.

Notably, Smith has never featured in the PSL before.

However, the veteran batter arrives with strong T20 form, having enjoyed a sensational outing in the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL) season 15, where he represented Sydney Sixers.

Smith played six matches, scoring 299 runs at an average of 59.80 and a strike rate of 167.97, including a blistering 42-ball century.

Overall, Smith has played 272 T20 matches, scoring 6,242 runs at an average of 32.68 and a strike rate of 131.38, including five centuries and 30 half-centuries.

It is pertinent to note that under PSL 11 regulations, each franchise is allowed one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, a clause that appears to have been utilised by Sialkot Stallionz to land the Australian star.

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The newly inducted Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Sialkot Stallionz has appointed former Australian captain Tim Paine as head coach ahead of the landmark season 11.

The announcement came via Stallionz social handles with an animated poster.

“We’re proud to announce Tim Paine as the Head Coach of 𝑺𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒐𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒛,” the captain of the post read.

“Former Australian captain. Proven leader at the highest level. A championship mindset to lead a new era. Welcome to the Stallionz family, Coach,” it added.

 

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A post shared by Sialkot Stallionz (@sialkotstallionzpsl)

Paine, who hanged up his boots from professional cricket in March 2023, represented Australia in 35 Tests and same number of ODIs and 12 T20Is.

Among his 35 Tests, 23 of them came as captain after taking the reins of the team following Sandpaper gate.

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The notable achievements under his leadership was retaining the Ashes in 2019 with a 2-2 draw in England.

Overall, Australia won 11 and lost eight Tests during his tenure as captain before stepping down from the role in 2021 before the Ashes.

Following his retirement, Paine took over coaching of the Adelaide Strikers and was subsequenlty appointed as Australia A coach for three series in the second half of 2025.

Paine was hired in a consultancy role that included working across Australia A men’s series as well as supporting the Australia women’s team while continuing his duties as Strikers coach.

For the unversed, the new PSL franchise was acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers won the bid with a record price of Rs 1.85 billion, securing the rights to the Sialkot franchise.

The hsitoric eight-team PSL 11 will begin on 26 march 2026.

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Sialkot’s newly inducted Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise has officially revealed its name ahead of the landmark season 11, confirming long-standing rumours by branding the team as Sialkot Stallionz.

The announcement was made through a 3D animated video posted on the team’s official X account.

The video introduced the franchise’s identity, with the caption:
“You guessed it. You waited. Now, I am proud to officially introduce SIALKOT STALLIONZ. Excited to be part of the Pakistan Super League journey.”

From the heart of Sialkot,
a name that carries resilience and pride.
Introducing Sialkot Stallionz. 🐎🔥#SialkotStallionz pic.twitter.com/MCyDxyS8Eg

— Sialkot Stallionz (@PSLStallionz) January 21, 2026

The name has strong domestic cricket roots, paying homage to the iconic Sialkot Stallions, a powerhouse of Pakistan’s domestic T20 cricket.

The team claimed six National T20 Cup titles between 2005 and 2012 and remains one of the most successful sides in the country’s domestic history.

Sialkot Stallions also held a world-record 25-match unbeaten run, a feat that still stands as a benchmark in Pakistan’s T20 circuit.

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The team’s legacy includes notable players such as Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir and Haris Sohail, among others.

The newly named PSL franchise was acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers won the bid with a record price of Rs 1.85 billion, securing the rights to the Sialkot franchise.

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