Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq found himself in a difficult position during the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) player auction when his son, Faham-ul-Haq, went unsold while he sat on the Peshawar Zalmi selection panel.
Faham-ul-Haq, a left-handed batting all-rounder in his early 20s, entered the auction with a base price of 60 lakhs. Despite being part of Pakistan’s domestic cricket circuit and recording notable performances, including fifties in the President’s Trophy Grade-II and appearances in first-class competitions, he did not receive a single bid from any franchise.
Speaking after the auction, Misbah described the experience as emotionally challenging.
“This is one of those questions where you have to pause and stay quiet,” he said. “Obviously, if someone is talented and performing, whichever team it is will notice. When his time comes, he will play. It is very difficult for a parent, extremely difficult, to reach a stage like this and watch everything unfold. At that moment, you try to stay neutral and avoid making decisions based on emotions.”
Misbah emphasized that selections must be based on merit rather than relationships. He made it clear that he did not intervene on his son’s behalf to avoid any perception of favoritism.
“But I believe that when you perform, your time comes,” he added. “You earn things through your performances, and that is when it truly feels rewarding.”
Faham-ul-Haq’s cricket journey has previously drawn attention in Pakistan’s cricket circles. In April 2025, his participation in the President’s Trophy Grade-II tournament sparked debate after questions were raised about eligibility rules regarding players switching between first-class and Grade-II competitions in the same season.
Critics alleged favoritism due to Misbah’s long-standing influence in domestic cricket structures. He also faced scrutiny during youth-level selections, with some arguing that other strong performers were overlooked.
At the PSL 2026 auction, Misbah’s decision not to bid for his son was widely discussed online. Many praised his professionalism and described the moment as “merit over nepotism,” while others questioned whether Faham’s current performances were strong enough to justify a PSL contract at this stage.
The PSL 2026 auction, held on February 11 in Lahore, was the first player auction in league history after expanding to eight teams, including the new franchises Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen and Sialkot Stallionz.
