Multan Sultans Weigh Ben Stokes as PSL 12 Marquee Direct Signing

Multan Sultans are reportedly evaluating England all-rounder Ben Stokes as their marquee direct signing for the 12th edition of the Pakistan Super League, according to media reports. Franchise owner and chief executive Gohar Shah has reportedly confirmed that the team's direct signing will be an English cricketer but has not disclosed the player's identity, leaving the door open to speculation.

Stokes has emerged as a leading candidate in that discussion, with growing talk of a possible move to the franchise ahead of PSL 12. The former England Test captain has already been linked with the league after holding conversations with franchises about featuring in the 2027 season, and British newspaper The Guardian reported in September that he had been in talks with teams from both the PSL and Major League Cricket in the United States.

Any move could still run into procedural hurdles. Stokes retired from international cricket in June 2026 but remains registered with Durham, meaning a No-Objection Certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board may be required before he can appear in overseas franchise competitions. The all-rounder has already signed with Adelaide Strikers for the 2026-27 Big Bash League season, marking his return to Australia's T20 competition.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has permitted each PSL franchise to directly sign one marquee player who did not feature in PSL 10 or PSL 11. The direct signing window opened on October 23 and will stay open until November 23, 2026, giving Multan Sultans roughly a month to finalise their choice.

The PSL 12 player auction is scheduled for January 23, 2027, while the tournament itself is set to run from March 18 to May 2, featuring 44 matches across five to six venues. Multan Sultans have not officially announced their marquee signing, and any agreement involving Stokes remains unconfirmed.

For Pakistani cricket fans, the prospect of a player of Stokes's stature joining the league would add significant star power to PSL 12, though the franchise and the PCB have so far released no formal confirmation of the identity of the direct signing.