Australians at the PSL: Smith, Maxwell, Warner, Labuschagne headline influx

For some it's a chance to keep the pressure on the selectors while for others an opportunity to build their reputation

Andrew McGlashan

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 9:05 PM (9 hrs ago)

The 2026 edition of the PSL gets underway on March 26 and there are a host of Australian players due to appear at the tournament following the conclusion of their domestic season. Here's a rundown of who is going where.

Max Bryant (Islamabad United)

Bryant has long been one of the most exciting stroke-makers in Australian cricket but has struggled for consistency, although there have been signs of him turning that around. Over the last two BBL seasons for Brisbane Heat he has made 481 runs and 37.00 with a strike-rate of 158.74. He played five games for Peshawar Zalmi last season.

Aaron Hardie (Peshawar Zalmi)

The Western Australia and Perth Scorchers allrounder has slipped down Australia's pecking order in recent times, but enjoyed an impressive BBL - with 339 runs at a strike-rate of 146.12 and 12 wickets - so the PSL offers him a chance to build on that and push for a recall for the next two-year T20 cycle into the Olympics and home World Cup.

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Sam Harper (Quetta Gladiators)

Wicketkeeper-batter Harper has enjoyed a breakout domestic season across all formats. He was named player of the tournament in the BBL after making 381 runs at 54.42 which included an unbeaten 110 off 60 balls against Sydney Sixers and he carried that form into the latter part of the Sheffield Shield with twin centuries against Western Australia and 93 against Tasmania. His tempo at the top of the order could well attract wider interest. He will join after the Shield final.

Marnus Labuschagne (Kingsmen)

Labuschagne's T20 career has been limited by his regular presence in Australia's Test side, then often finding himself down the order for Brisbane Heat, and this stint in the PSL will be only his second overseas league after the T20 Blast. He will come in on the back of an impressive 50-over season for Queensland where he was named player of the One-Day Cup after making four centuries. Has been named captain for Kingsmen.

Glenn Maxwell (Kingsmen)

Maxwell's international future looks uncertain - although he's not making a call on it for now - and he's had a torrid run in T20 of late with a poor BBL for Melbourne Stars (76 runs in eight innings) then continued struggles at the T20 World Cup. He had been a fixture in the IPL but only managed 48 runs in six knocks last season and didn't put himself into the auction this time.

Ben McDermott (Quetta Gladiators)

Now effectively a freelancer cricketer, although still with ambitions to represent Australia in T20Is, McDermott returns to the PSL after a brief stint last season with Karachi Kings. His BBL campaign was solid with 322 runs featuring a strong start and finish amid a mid-season lull. His ability to keep wicket adds an additional string to his bow.

Riley Meredith (Kingsmen)

Given the number of injuries impacting Australia's white-ball pace stocks, it's a little surprising Meredith has not had another go since 2024 although his own injury history plays a part. He is consistently among the quickest bowlers in the BBL and has put together two strong back-to-back seasons. It's a return to the PSL after he featured for Islamabad in 2025.

Josh Philippe (Multan Sultans)

The wicketkeeper-batter has returned to the Australia set-up this season in both ODIs and T20Is. He was part of Sydney Sixers who reached the BBL final and New South Wales who won the domestic One-Day Cup.

Lachlan Shaw (Multan Sultans)

An emerging talent, Shaw has had a taste of Australia A cricket, when he toured India last year having shown glimpses of his potential across white-ball cricket for Sixers and NSW. A wicketkeeper by trade, he is a superb fielder as well which adds to his value.

Peter Siddle (Multan Sultans)

One of the great stories to emerge from this season's BBL, the 41-year-old Siddle was pushing the speed gun regularly over 140kph as a key part of Melbourne Stars' impressive bowling attack. He finished with 16 wickets at 17.00 and an economy rate of 7.12.

Steven Smith (Multan Sultans)

Smith emerged as a major talking point around Australia's T20 World Cup campaign after a prolific few matches for Sydney Sixers which included a spectacular century at the SCG. He was overlooked for the initial squad before eventually being called up as cover and then finally added to the group, but did not end up playing before the side crashed. Has spoken repeatedly of his desire to make the 2028 Olympics.

Ashton Turner (Multan Sultans)

In many ways, it is remarkable that Turner has only played 19 T20Is. He has built a formidable domestic record as a batter and captain, this season leading Perth Scorchers to another BBL title. His leadership qualities have seen him named captain of Sultans where he'll have an Australia-heavy squad.

David Warner (Karachi Kings)

Age has certainly not wearied Warner who finished as the leading run-scorer in this seasons BBL with 433 runs at 49.52 for Sydney Thunder including two centuries, although both came in defeats, and he will play on for at least another year in Australia. It will be Warner's second season with Kings after making 368 runs at 33.45 in 2025.

Adam Zampa (Karachi Kings)

Australia's premier white-ball legspinner is heading to the PSL for the first time. After an injury-hit BBL for Melbourne Renegades, who he now seems set to leave, he claimed three four wicket hauls across seven T20Is against Pakistan and in the T20 World Cup, but was wicketless in Australia's two defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka which saw them crash out.

Spencer Johnson and Jake Fraser-McGurk have withdrawn

Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo

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