PSL: Sialkot Team Captain, Squad Details to Be Finalized, Says Owner Hamza Majeed

Lahore: Hamza Majeed, owner of the most expensive team in Pakistan Super League (PSL) history, has revealed plans regarding the Sialkot franchise’s captain and squad.

Speaking to the media at the Sports Journalists Association of Lahore (SJAL) office in the National Hockey Stadium, Hamza Majeed said that if the team achieves success in the PSL, he would first sit with the media to share updates.

He explained that the team was named Sialkot because the city’s cricket fans are passionate and have been missing top-level cricket for a long time. He also highlighted that the Sialkot cricket stadium was in poor condition and expressed a desire to renovate it.

Currently, Faisalabad Stadium is being considered as an alternative home ground, and he thanked Mohsin Naqvi for his support. “We will improve Sialkot stadium soon,” he added.

Hamza Majeed said consultations are ongoing, and the official franchise name and documents will be finalized next week. He emphasized that the PSL team owners are fully supportive, creating an ideal environment for the franchise.

Regarding players, he said the player draft will be completed by the end of this month, and signing Babar Azam is a shared aspiration. Six to seven Australian cricketers have registered for the draft, and three to four are expected to join the team.

He added that the team prefers to include Pakistan’s current playing XI and aims to promote local talent, giving Sialkot’s youth a platform to perform and earn a spot in the squad.

Hamza Majeed confirmed that the team captain will be Pakistani, and coaches will be selected based on merit. “If local coaches are unavailable, we will turn to foreign coaches,” he said.

He concluded by noting that stakeholders with cricket backgrounds have been brought on board, and efforts will also be made to promote tape ball cricket in the region.