PSL 2026 set for auction system as Lahore Qalandars oppose major change

The upcoming clash between the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) was anticipated much earlier than usual due to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup taking place in February. The PSL will increase its number of teams with the addition of two new franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot. The PCB are in the process of taking the PSL through many changes, including possible changes to the structure, with one of them being to incorporate a player auction system similar to the position currently held by the IPL. These changes mark an important transition for the PSL in order to continue to grow and develop.

Since its inception, the PSL has always selected players through a non-auction Draft-based System each season. Over the past few years, there have been numerous requests for a transition to an auction System, with many fans and supporters believing that Auctions will give franchises more options when constructing their roster. Sources indicate that franchises such as Karachi Kings, Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators have indicated they would like to see the current Draft replaced with an Auction format, as they believe an Auction format could make the league more competitive and commercially viable while at the same time bringing the PSL in line with other leading T20 leagues.

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Conversely, with a whole other perspective on things is Lahore Qalandars, who are the only team to currently support retaining the Draft System because it promotes equity and fairness among all teams. As for Peshawar Zalmi, they have not yet expressed their opinion to the PCB, so at this time we don't know where they stand. The PCB has also not indicated whether they require all franchises to unanimously agree or if simply having a majority vote will allow for implementing the Auction. Therefore, until a clear decision is made by the PCB, the structure for signing players in the PSL remains unknown.

How the PSL Draft System Works and Why It Faces Criticism

Currently, the PSL uses a draft system for selecting players. There are six franchises in the PSL and six different categories of players: Platinum, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Emerging, and Supplementary. Each franchise selects its players in a specific order, which is determined by the PCB and is typically based on the results of the previous season or the agreements between franchise owners. The draft starts with the Platinum category because these players receive the most money.

The PSL's draft method has been met with criticism in the past due to many reasons, but primarily lack of transparency around how the draft order is decided. This has caused speculation and dissatisfaction among franchises regarding their draft order. The draft restricts teams from being able to create strategies because franchises cannot compete aggressively for marquee players. Those who support an auction model believe that auctions would create more access to players, more Flexibility, and more excitement for building teams in accordance with their tactical strategies.