The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to expand the Pakistan Super League by adding two new franchises ahead of the 2026 edition. Each of the new teams will come with a reserve price of 1.3 billion Pakistani rupees per year (approx INR 41 crore), according to the Pakistan board’s valuation for the next phase of the tournament.
The PCB has shortlisted six cities – Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit – for the two new Pakistan Super League franchises. Two of these locations will be finalized by January. The final auction for the two new teams in the T20 tournament is scheduled to take place on January 8.
Strong Interest in New PSL Franchises as PCB Reviews Bids
According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board has received strong interest in its plan to add two new teams to the Pakistan Super League. A total of 12 groups have submitted initial bid documents, including five from overseas, highlighting growing foreign interest in the league.
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The PCB has not yet announced the final list of bidders. Before doing so, it will carry out financial and technical checks to ensure all interested parties meet the required standards.
Earlier this month, the PCB held PSL roadshows in London and New York to attract international investors. The board has also offered strong financial guarantees to make the new franchises more appealing as it looks to expand the league.
PCB Guarantees Rs 850 Million Annual Revenue for Each PSL Franchise
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a financial plan to support teams. Each franchise will be guaranteed at least Rs 850 million every season from the league’s central revenue pool for the next five years. If a team earns less than this amount in any season, the PCB will pay the difference.
At present, the PSL has six teams, and each pays a different annual franchise fee. Quetta Gladiators are valued at Rs 360 million, while Multan Sultans have the highest value at Rs 1.8 billion. Other teams, such as Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, and Peshawar Zalmi, fall in between these figures.
Once the league expands to eight teams, all franchises will receive an equal share from the central revenue pool. The PCB has also allowed each franchise to spend up to USD 1.4 million on players through the PSL draft. This will help teams build stronger squads and increase competition in the league.
Former Multan Sultans Owners Re-Enter PSL Franchise Bidding Process
The ownership situation around Multan Sultans has taken a new turn. According to reports, the franchise’s former owners have entered the bidding process to buy one of the two new PSL teams. They gave up control of Multan Sultans following disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Despite their return to the bidding process, there is still no clear answer on who will own Multan Sultans next season. The uncertainty has raised questions ahead of the upcoming PSL edition.
There is strong speculation that the PCB may run the Multan Sultans themselves for the next season. The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League is scheduled to begin on March 26 next year, and a final decision on ownership is expected before then.
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