PSL 2026 Emerging Team of the Year Revealed, HBL PSL 11 Honours Its Best Young Talent
For the very first time in its history, HBL PSL has announced an Emerging Team of the Tournament, and the Class of 2026 has made a strong statement. These are the young players who did not just participate in PSL 2026 but genuinely stood out and demanded attention.
PSL 2026 Emerging Team of the Year: Full XI
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sameer Minhas | Islamabad United | Batter |
| Shamyl Hussain | Quetta Gladiators | Batter |
| Maaz Sadaqat | Hyderabad Kingsmen | Batter |
| Saad Baig (WK) | Karachi Kings | Wicketkeeper |
| Farhan Yousaf | Peshawar Zalmi | Batter |
| Saad Masood | Rawalpindiz | Batter |
| Hunain Shah | Hyderabad Kingsmen | Pace Bowler |
| Ali Raza | Peshawar Zalmi | All-rounder |
| Mohammad Ismail | Multan Sultans | Pace Bowler |
| Ubaid Shah | Lahore Qalandars | Pace Bowler |
| Momin Qamar | Multan Sultans | Spinner |
| Mohammad Farooq | Lahore Qalandars | Pace Bowler |
Why This Announcement Matters
This is not just a ceremonial list. PSL making an Emerging Team of the Tournament for the first time signals that the league is taking youth development seriously. With so many young players stepping up in HBL PSL 11, there was genuine justification for a separate recognition category.
Every player in this XI earned their spot through performances, not reputation. That is what makes it worth paying attention to.
Batting Core of the Emerging XI
Sameer Minhas
The Islamabad United youngster showed he could hold his own at the top. Minhas was composed under pressure and did not look out of place against seasoned international bowling attacks.
Shamyl Hussain
Quetta Gladiators had limited positives overall this season, but Shamyl Hussain was one of them. He brought energy and shot-making ability that gave the franchise genuine hope for the future.
Maaz Sadaqat
Hyderabad Kingsmen had a fantastic season as a franchise and Maaz Sadaqat contributed to that momentum. He is exactly the type of technically correct young batter that Pakistan domestic cricket needs to keep producing.
Farhan Yousaf
Peshawar Zalmi’s young gun made an impression whenever he got his opportunity. Farhan showed the temperament to bat in tough situations and the aggression to capitalise when conditions allowed.
Saad Masood
Rawalpindiz have been one of the talking points of this season and Saad Masood gave their batting an extra dimension. His performances showed he is ready to push for bigger stages.
| Emerging Batter | Team | Batting Style |
|---|---|---|
| Sameer Minhas | Islamabad United | Right-hand |
| Shamyl Hussain | Quetta Gladiators | Right-hand |
| Maaz Sadaqat | Hyderabad Kingsmen | Right-hand |
| Farhan Yousaf | Peshawar Zalmi | Right-hand |
| Saad Masood | Rawalpindiz | Right-hand |
Saad Baig: The Gloves Are in Safe Hands
Saad Baig of Karachi Kings takes the wicketkeeper spot in this XI. For a young keeper to command this recognition in a league where experience usually wins, his performances with both gloves and bat must have been consistently above the line.
Karachi Kings have been through a turbulent season but their emerging talent pipeline clearly has quality coming through.
The Bowling Pack: Pace-Heavy and Hungry
This Emerging XI leans heavily on pace, which reflects the natural talent coming out of Pakistan’s cricket system right now.
Hunain Shah
Already included in the main Team of the Year, Hunain Shah’s second appearance here underlines just how good a season the Hyderabad Kingsmen pacer had. Young, rapid, and growing with every game.
Mohammad Ismail
The Multan Sultans pacer has been on the radar for a while and this season he took another step forward. Ismail’s ability to bowl consistently at pace and hit the right lengths made him a genuine threat.
Ubaid Shah
Lahore Qalandars found a gem in Ubaid Shah. His ability to generate pace from a smooth action and trouble top-order batters early in the innings put him firmly in the emerging category conversation.
Momin Qamar
The Multan Sultans spinner adds variety to what is otherwise a pace-heavy attack. Momin Qamar showed control and the ability to turn the ball on pitches that did not offer a great deal, which is a skill that separates good spinners from average ones.
Mohammad Farooq
Another Lahore Qalandars pacer, Mohammad Farooq rounds out the bowling attack. His inclusion alongside Ubaid Shah shows how well Lahore have invested in developing pace options beyond their established stars.
Ali Raza
The Peshawar Zalmi all-rounder adds balance to the middle of this XI. Ali Raza contributed with both bat and ball, which is exactly what emerging all-rounders need to do to get noticed at this level.
| Emerging Bowler | Team | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hunain Shah | Hyderabad Kingsmen | Right-arm Pace |
| Mohammad Ismail | Multan Sultans | Right-arm Pace |
| Ubaid Shah | Lahore Qalandars | Right-arm Pace |
| Momin Qamar | Multan Sultans | Left-arm Spin |
| Mohammad Farooq | Lahore Qalandars | Right-arm Pace |
| Ali Raza | Peshawar Zalmi | All-round |
Franchise Breakdown: Who Produced the Most Young Talent
- Lahore Qalandars have two players (Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Farooq), showing their academy pipeline is working.
- Multan Sultans also have two (Mohammad Ismail, Momin Qamar), a positive sign for their rebuild under new ownership.
- Hyderabad Kingsmen contribute Maaz Sadaqat and Hunain Shah, continuing their impressive season across all award categories.
- Peshawar Zalmi send Farhan Yousaf and Ali Raza, adding to a strong franchise showing in both the main and emerging XIs.
- Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Rawalpindiz each contribute one player.
The spread across all eight franchises is a healthy sign. The full squad details for each team are available on the PSL 2026 squads page.
What This XI Means for Pakistan Cricket
Pakistan has always had raw talent. The bigger challenge has been finding consistent pathways to develop and expose young players to high-pressure environments. PSL remains the most effective platform for exactly that.
The fact that this list exists at all is meaningful. It tells emerging players there is a tangible reward for standing out, not just surviving in a squad. That recognition matters for confidence, motivation, and long-term development.
Several of these players will be pushing for national selection conversations over the next twelve to eighteen months. Track the PSL 2026 points table to see how their franchises finished and understand the team contexts in which they delivered.
FAQs
Is this the first time PSL has announced an Emerging Team of the Tournament? Yes. HBL PSL 11 in 2026 is the first edition of the tournament to officially name an Emerging Team of the Year.
Which franchise has the most players in the PSL 2026 Emerging Team of the Year? Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans both have two players each in the Emerging XI.
Who is the wicketkeeper in the PSL 2026 Emerging Team of the Year? Saad Baig of Karachi Kings is the wicketkeeper in the Emerging Team of the Tournament.
Is Hunain Shah in both the Team of the Year and Emerging Team of the Year? Yes. Hunain Shah of Hyderabad Kingsmen features in both the main Team of the Year and the Emerging Team of the Tournament.
Who is the spinner in the PSL 2026 Emerging XI? Momin Qamar of Multan Sultans is the only specialist spinner in the Emerging Team of the Year.
Which teams are represented in the PSL 2026 Emerging Team of the Year? All eight franchises have at least one representative: Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Hyderabad Kingsmen, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindiz, Multan Sultans, and Lahore Qalandars.
