Glenn Maxwell pulled off the unimaginable against Afghanistan in 2023. Photo: AFP/File
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen have strengthened their squad ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League season with the signing of Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, the franchise announced on Thursday.
The Kingsmen confirmed the high-profile addition through their official social media channels, describing Maxwell as a key signing for the 11th edition of the PSL, which is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3.
Maxwell, one of Australia’s most destructive batters in the T20 format, is set to make his Pakistan Super League debut this season. The right-hander is expected to bring experience, power-hitting and off-spin bowling options to a Kingsmen side preparing for its first PSL campaign.
At international level, Maxwell has been a consistent performer for Australia in T20 internationals. He has scored 2,897 runs in 129 matches at a strike rate of 158.42, including 12 half-centuries and five centuries, with a career-best unbeaten 145. He has also taken 49 wickets with his off-spin, underlining his value as a genuine all-rounder.
The 35-year-old also boasts vast franchise cricket experience across the world. He has featured prominently in major leagues including the Big Bash League, Indian Premier League, The Hundred and the Vitality Blast.
Across 502 T20 matches, Maxwell has accumulated 10,986 runs at a strike rate of 154.16, registering 58 fifties and eight centuries, while also claiming 196 wickets. His signing is seen as a major boost for Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen as they look to assemble a competitive squad for their inaugural PSL season.
Earlier this month, the franchise also secured Australian top-order batter Marnus Labuschagne as a direct signing, further strengthening their batting lineup.
The squad-building process for PSL 11 has been markedly different this year, following the league’s first-ever player auction, held at the Expo Centre Karachi on Wednesday. The auction replaced the draft system that had been used for the first 10 seasons since the PSL’s launch in 2016.
The change comes as the Pakistan Super League expands from six to eight teams, with the addition of Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallionz. Existing franchises were allowed to retain only four players each, adding to the challenge of squad construction ahead of the new season.
Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen’s PSL 11 squad includes Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Kusal Perera, Riley Meredith and Sharjeel Khan, alongside Maxwell and Labuschagne.
With international stars and emerging local talent in their ranks, the Kingsmen will be aiming to make an immediate impact in PSL 11.
