Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026: Full schedule, teams & auction date

The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has launched the inaugural Sher-e-Punjab T20 League, a new domestic tournament aimed at finding and developing talented cricketers from Punjab. The league was officially unveiled at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, with India captain Shubman Gill and fast bowler Arshdeep Singh attending the launch event.

The first edition of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will be played from August 30 to September 13, 2026. A total of six teams will compete in 27 matches, with all games set to be held at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. The tournament is expected to give young players a strong platform to showcase their talent.

Several well-known Indian players, including Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Prabhsimran Singh and Ramandeep Singh, are expected to take part in the league. However, Gill and Gurnoor Brar may join later as they are on national duty in Sri Lanka until August 28. Gill said the tournament can help identify Punjab's next generation of cricketers and prepare them for higher levels of the game.

In this article, we will share everything you need to know about the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026, including the full schedule, participating teams, auction date, venue, player rules and other important details ahead of the inaugural season.

What is Sher-e-Punjab T20 League?

The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League is a new domestic T20 cricket tournament launched by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) to promote and develop cricket talent in the state. The league was officially unveiled at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, marking the start of a new chapter for Punjab cricket.

The inaugural edition of the tournament will be held from August 30 to September 13, with six teams competing in 27 matches. The league is expected to provide young cricketers with an opportunity to play alongside experienced players and showcase their skills on a bigger stage.

Several top Punjab cricketers, including India captain Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Gurnoor Brar, Prabhsimran Singh and Ramandeep Singh, are set to feature in the tournament. The league was launched by PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and President Amarjeet Singh Mehta in the presence of Gill and Arshdeep Singh.

Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026 schedule and dates

The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026 will be played from August 30 to September 13. The tournament was launched at the Punjab Cricket Association's Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur in the presence of Punjab Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, PCA President Amarjeet Singh Mehta, Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh.

The full match schedule has not been announced yet. However, the inaugural edition will feature six franchises competing in 27 matches. The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with the top teams advancing to the knockout stage.

Sher-e-Punjab T20 League teams and format

The Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026 will feature six franchises representing Amritsar, Bathinda, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali. Each team will include a mix of marquee players, icon players and talented domestic cricketers from Punjab, giving young players a chance to compete alongside experienced stars.

Around 250 players are expected to be part of the player pool, with 120 players set to be selected across the six franchises. Each team can register a maximum squad of 20 players for the inaugural season.

Sher-e-Punjab T20 League auction date and player purse

The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has confirmed that the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026 player auction will be held on August 9. The auction will allow all six franchises to build their squads before the tournament begins on August 30.

Each franchise will have a salary purse of Rs 45 lakh for the auction. The price of a marquee player has been fixed at Rs 10 lakh, while icon players will have a base price of Rs 1.50 lakh. Punjab first-class players will have a base price of Rs 1 lakh.

The base price for Under-23 players has been set at Rs 75,000, while Under-19 players will have a base price of Rs 50,000. District-level players will have a base price of Rs 20,000. According to the tournament rules, every franchise must sign one marquee player and at least two icon players.

Sher-e-Punjab T20 League venue and ticket details

The inaugural edition of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2026 will be held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has also confirmed that entry will be free for all spectators, allowing fans to watch every match without buying a ticket.

PCA President Amarjeet Singh Mehta said the league will give talented players a chance to impress selectors and earn bigger opportunities in the future. He added that players will still need to perform consistently to progress to higher levels of the game. India captain Shubman Gill also praised the tournament, saying it can become an important platform for young cricketers to represent Punjab and India.

PCA Secretary Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said Punjab has a rich history of producing world-class cricketers and believes the new league will continue that tradition. He added that the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League will provide young players with a professional platform to play alongside experienced stars and take the next step in their cricket careers.