The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has extended the bidding deadline for the two new Pakistan Super League franchises once again. An official statement is still awaited, but this is the second time the board has delayed the process, suggesting that interest from potential buyers has been slower than expected.
The auction for the two new teams is set to take place on January 6. Earlier, the PCB extended the deadline for submitting bids from December 15 to December 22. The PCB said that the extension was given because interest was coming in from new regions, including Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.
PCB Extends Deadline for Bids on Two New PSL Franchises to December 24
The Pakistan Cricket Board has once again extended the deadline for submitting initial bids for the two new PSL franchises. The new cut-off date is now December 24, although the board has not yet made an official announcement.
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“The last date for submitting initial bids is now extended by two days,” revealed a source at news agency PTI.
This is the second time the deadline has been extended. Earlier, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had said the original December 15 deadline was moved to December 22 during a PSL roadshow in New York.
While the PCB has not announced the latest delay, the board is not fully satisfied with the technical bids received so far. The PCB is looking for stronger and more suitable proposals.
Only those bidders who pass the initial technical evaluation will be allowed to take part in the final auction. The sale of the two new franchises is currently scheduled for early January.
PCB Explores Overseas Investment as Multan Sultans’ Future Remains Unclear
The Pakistan Cricket Board held roadshows in cities like London and New York to encourage foreign buyers to bid for PSL franchises instead of relying only on local investors.
At the same time, there is still uncertainty around the future of the Multan Sultans. The franchise became vacant after its former owner, Ali Tareen, stepped away following a disagreement with the board.
Notably, the PCB may take control of the Multan Sultans for the upcoming season. The plan could be to run the team for one year and then offer the franchise again through a fresh bidding process before the league’s 12th season, with rights likely to be sold for a long-term cycle.
PSL Set to Overlap With IPL Again as Longest Season Awaits
The Pakistan Super League will once again clash with the IPL next year, marking the second straight season where the two tournaments run at the same time. Notably, the IPL is scheduled from late March to the end of May, and the PSL will again take place in the April-May window.
The upcoming PSL season will be the longest in the league’s history. It is expected to run for 39 days, which is about a week longer than previous editions. Once the two new teams are confirmed, the final schedule will be released, and fans can expect more matches than ever before.
This will also be the second year in a row that the PSL is held in April and May. There will be a short gap between the end of the T20 World Cup and the start of the league, giving players limited recovery time.
Also read: India Playing XI against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026
