Afghanistan’s aggressive opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz has announced his withdrawal from the 11th season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), citing personal commitments.
For PSL Season 11, Peshawar Zalmi had included Gurbaz in their squad through a direct signing before the auction. The franchise confirmed his signing on February 5 through official social media accounts, sharing a graphical poster of Gurbaz wearing a traditional turban against a mountain backdrop. However, the deal amount was not disclosed.
We are proud to confirm the direct signing of Afghanistan’s star wicketkeeper-batter, @RGurbaz_21
🔥 Explosive with the bat.
🧤 Lightning-fast behind the stumps.
🏃 A gun fielder with extraordinary energy.A warm welcome to the Zalmi Fam 💛🤝#Zalmi #YellowStorm pic.twitter.com/jl8b61WUwL
— Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) February 5, 2026
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Gurbaz shared a video message on Instagram in Pashto, informing fans about his decision. He said, “Salam everyone, fans from everywhere. After the World Cup, I won’t be available for the PSL this season due to my schedule. I’ll be focusing more on my foundation work in Afghanistan. Thank you for all the love and support.”
The 11th edition of the PSL is scheduled to begin on March 26 and will continue until May 3.
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Earlier, Gurbaz played in the PSL across three seasons. He represented Multan Sultans in 2021 before moving to Islamabad United for the 2022 and 2023 editions. He scored 318 runs in 15 matches at an average of 22.71, including a half-century.
Gurbaz has been a regular for Afghanistan, representing the national side in two Tests, 52 ODIs and 83 T20Is. He is known for his aggressive approach on the top of the order and his skills behind the stumps.
On the franchise level, 24-year-old Gurbaz is among the most in-demand Afghan players worldwide. He has played major leagues such as IPL, BPL, CPL, SA20 and ILT20. Overall, Gurbaz has scored 6,244 runs in T20 cricket on an average of 24.97 and a strike rate of 145.00, including two centuries.