PSL set for expansion! PCB sends renewal notices & opens door for new team bids

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a major step toward the long-planned expansion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), completing an independent valuation of all existing franchises and moving ahead with the process to add two new teams for the 2026 season. The development marks one of the most significant structural updates in the league’s history.

As part of the expansion roadmap, the PCB has shortlisted six cities as potential homes for the new franchises. These include Hyderabad, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi. Bidders participating in the upcoming auction will be allowed to choose any of these cities as their preferred base. The PCB has confirmed that the two new teams will make their PSL debut in 2026, once the auction concludes and franchise rights are awarded.

The valuation process, carried out by EY MENA, has assessed the worth of current teams as well as key commercial assets tied to the league. Following the completion of this audit, renewal letters have been dispatched to all six existing franchises, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, and Multan Sultans. These letters outline revised financial terms for the next ten-year cycle, with teams required to respond within a given deadline.

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Franchise Fee Hike Sparks Dialogue as PSL Expansion Nears

To ensure transparency, the PCB has scheduled both joint and one-on-one sessions between franchise owners and the valuation team. These meetings will allow teams to review the valuation model, raise concerns, and understand the basis of the revised fees. According to insiders, the proposed fee hikes are substantial, ranging from 75% to 150%. Multan Sultans remain the most valuable franchise with an annual fee of USD 6.35 million, while other teams fall between USD 1.3 million and 2.6 million.

Meanwhile, PSL CEO Salman Naseer has reaffirmed that the auction for the two new franchises will begin soon, with all transactions expected to conclude within a month. However, uncertainty remains over the exact window of the PSL’s 11th edition, which is likely to be staged between March and May next year and may overlap with the Indian Premier League. With the groundwork nearing completion, the league is gearing up for a new era of growth and wider national representation.