PSL expands to eight teams as PCB opens auction for two new franchises
The Pakistan Super League is set for its biggest change yet. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has moved to expand the tournament to eight teams for the 2026 season, a major step aimed at growth, greater national reach and stronger commercial stability.
Auction — when and where
The auction to award ownership of the two new PSL franchises will be held in Islamabad on January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Centre, starting at 4:15 pm local time. The event will be streamed live on the PCB’s official YouTube channel, and will also be available on Tapmad, Tamasha, Myco and PCB Live (UK). Organisers have said Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will perform after the bidding concludes.
Why the expansion is happening now
The move follows franchise agreements signed in 2021 that guaranteed no new teams would be added until existing franchise commitments concluded after the 2025 season. With that window now behind them, the PCB has accelerated plans that have been discussed since the league launched. The PSL began in 2016 as a five-team competition; Multan Sultans joined in 2018 to make six. Expanding to eight teams is positioned as the next logical step to scale the league and boost long-term commercial value.
Cities shortlisted for the new franchises
Six cities have been shortlisted as potential homes for the two new teams. Successful bidders will gain naming rights and local affiliation:
- Rawalpindi (Punjab)
- Faisalabad (Punjab)
- Hyderabad (Sindh)
- Sialkot (Punjab)
- Gilgit (Gilgit-Baltistan)
- Muzaffarabad (Azad Kashmir)
Who is bidding?
Twelve entities expressed interest and 10 cleared the technical evaluation to make the final shortlist. The bidders represent a cross-section of Pakistan’s business landscape — telecom, real estate, fintech, technology and energy.
Shortlisted bidders and their representatives
- Aim Next Inc — Umar Mushtaq, Ali Mushtaq
- Deharki Sugar Mills — Makhdoom Syed Ali Mahmud
- FKS — Fawad Sarwar
- Inverex — Muhammad Zakir Ali
- i2c — Amir Wain
- Jazz — Amir Ibrahim
- OZ Developers — Hamza Majeed
- Prism Developers — Masood Alvi
- VGO TEL — Naveed Gaba
- Walee Technologies — Ahsan Tahir
Notably, Ali Tareen — former owner of Multan Sultans — is expected to participate in the bidding. The PCB has clarified that Multan’s ownership clearance was tied to the end of 2025, and that Multan will be managed independently for 2026 and placed on sale after the season if required.
What the auction winner gets — and what changes to expect
Successful bidders will secure franchise rights for 10 years. Adding two teams will trigger several practical changes across the league:
- Revisions to player-retention rules to balance fairness between existing and new teams
- Changes to the structure of the player draft and squad composition
- Adjustments to squad balance and distribution of talent across eight teams
The PCB is still debating the fairest approach to the 2026 player draft and has not confirmed a draft date. Ensuring competitive parity for both legacy and incoming franchises is a priority.
PSL 2026 window and the IPL overlap
The 2026 PSL is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, once again overlapping with the Indian Premier League. The PCB remains hopeful that player availability will be manageable, pointing to the strong viewership and competitive squads that the PSL attracted during the 2025 overlap. How player releases and international commitments are handled will be closely watched by teams and broadcasters.
What this expansion means for Pakistani cricket
Expanding to eight teams broadens the PSL’s footprint and creates new commercial opportunities, from sponsorship and local fan engagement to talent development in previously underrepresented regions. If managed well, the move could strengthen domestic cricket pathways and grow the league’s appeal at home and abroad. The auction in Islamabad will be a key moment in that next chapter — not just for franchise owners, but for the fans and cities that will now have a stake in Pakistan’s premier T20 competition.