PSL expansion sparks global interest

About 12 Bidders vie for two new HBL PSL franchises

KARACHI:

The race to own a Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise has intensified, with two new teams set to join the competition from PSL 11 onwards and as many as 12 interested parties competing for ownership rights.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has termed the response to the bidding process as “extraordinary”, underlining the league’s growing commercial appeal at home and abroad.
According to details, the initial results of the tender process will be announced on Saturday. Bidders who meet the technical and financial criteria will then advance to an open auction, scheduled for January 8 at the Islamabad Convention Centre. The PCB has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent, competitive and internationally benchmarked process as it looks to further strengthen the PSL brand.
The extended deadline for bids attracted 12 parties from five countries — Pakistan, the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. The diverse pool of bidders includes mobile phone manufacturers, solar panel companies, real estate groups, prominent business entities and high-net-worth individuals. In several cases, consortiums have been formed to mount stronger bids, reflecting the scale of investment and long-term planning involved.
From PSL 11, the league will expand to eight teams for the first time, a significant milestone in its evolution. The two new franchises will be awarded ownership rights for a 10-year period, running from 2026 to 2035. Successful bidders will have the option to select a city-based name from a PCB-approved list that includes Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit. Alternatively, owners may propose a city name outside this list, subject to PCB approval.
To register a franchise name, bidders must pay a non-refundable fee of USD 1 million. Teams may also use a suffix alongside the city name, provided they receive written approval from the PCB. However, the board has made it clear that the existing team suffixes — Qalandars, Kings, United, Zalmi, Gladiators and Sultans — cannot be reused under any circumstances.
In a move designed to protect new investors, the PCB has guaranteed both incoming franchises a minimum revenue share of PKR 850 million from the central pool income for the first five PSL editions after they join the league. This assurance is aimed at making franchise ownership financially viable during the initial years, when teams typically invest heavily in infrastructure, branding and squad development.
PSL 11 itself is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, 2026, and will feature 44 matches across multiple venues as part of the expanded format. The addition of two new teams is expected to increase competitiveness, broaden the league’s geographical footprint and unlock new commercial opportunities.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround the future of Multan Sultans. The franchise’s existing ownership has not been renewed following repeated controversial statements by the owner, who is also reportedly uninterested in retaining the team. One option under consideration is for the PCB to manage Multan Sultans on a temporary basis during PSL 11, while a longer-term solution is explored.
With global interest growing and expansion firmly on track, the upcoming weeks could prove decisive in shaping the next chapter of the PSL.