Melbourne, Australia , 04 February (H.S.): Australian Test stalwart Steve Smith, aged 36, sealed a groundbreaking contract with Pakistan Super League's newest franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, signaling his unwavering intent to reclaim a T20I berth and compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket debuts as a T20 format.

Fresh off a scintillating Ashes series and a Big Bash League campaign—where he amassed 299 runs at a 59.80 average and 167.97 strike rate for Sydney Sixers runners-up, including a century and two fifties—Smith was overlooked for Australia's T20 World Cup squad, with selectors favoring captain Mitch Marsh and opener Travis Head.

Repeatedly affirming his Olympic aspirations post-Sydney Test, Smith tempered expectations by deeming his future day-by-day, yet this PSL direct signing—enabled by new rules ahead of the February 11 auction—underlines steely resolve, reuniting him with ex-captain Tim Paine as head coach in a Pakistan-Australian venture owned by real estate magnate Hamza Majeed.

The eighth-franchise expansion boasts two-year player commitments and marks Smith's PSL debut starting March 26, offering prime exposure to bolster his T20 credentials amid Australia's top-order logjam.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar