Web desk: Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer has confirmed that an auction for two new franchise teams will be held for the 11th edition of the league in 2026.
He made this announcement during a press conference at the National Bank Stadium on Wednesday, where he said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will soon begin the auction process for the new franchises.
New Franchises in PSL
Salman Naseer stated that there will be an auction for two new PSL franchises, and the bidding parties will be able to select their teams from a list of city names.
He also announced that all existing sponsorship and franchise agreements have concluded with the completion of the 10th PSL season, which he termed a significant milestone in the league’s development.
Further, he explained that all major agreements, including those with sponsors and franchises, have ended after 10 years.
He also added that HBL will remain the title sponsor for the 11th and 12th seasons.
PSL’s journey
Highlighting the PSL’s journey, Salman Naseer said that when the tournament began in 2015, international cricket had not yet returned to Pakistan, and both sponsor interest and participation were limited in the early years.
He mentioned that initially, interest was low and sponsorship opportunities were few, but once the league gained traction in the UAE, it quickly grew in popularity.
He added that the PSL continued to operate even during difficult times, including the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Appreciating the contribution of franchises, Naseer said that the league managed to maintain its reputation despite challenges such as political and regional instability.
PSL Venues
Discussing future plans, Naseer said that Faisalabad and Peshawar are being considered as possible PSL venues, and efforts are underway to revive cricket in both cities.
He emphasised that it is the PCBs and stakeholders’ collective effort, not to limit PSL’s presence to just four cities, but to expand to more regions.
He added that the lease issues of Peshawar Stadium are under review, and both venues are part of the board’s long-term development plan.
Salman Naseer also clarified that final decisions regarding the distribution of venues and matches after the inclusion of new teams will be made in consultation with the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
