PSL New Teams 2026: Inside the Expansion Plan Ahead of Season 11

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is confirmed to expand from six teams to eight teams starting with the 2026 season. This structural shift includes a major financial overhaul.

Key Details:

• Valuation & Ownership: The expansion is tied to the revaluation of the six existing franchises by independent auditors (EY). Current owners have the first right of renewal for the next 10 editions based on these new figures.
• New Franchises: The two new teams will be awarded via an open auction. They are expected to fetch between $7 million and $10 million each (up to Rs 2.5 billion).
• Cities: Bidders will choose from a PCB-curated “pool of cities” to ensure balanced geographical representation. Cities frequently mentioned by fans and analysts include Faisalabad and Sialkot. The PCB is also exploring adding Peshawar and Quetta as playing venues.
• Schedule Shift: The addition of two teams requires a window of more than 50 days. This necessitates moving the PSL to the competitive April–May window, which means the tournament will clash with the IPL.
• Commercial Confidence: Title sponsorship has already been extended for two years at an increase of 505 per cent compared to the inaugural deal.
• Internal Affairs: PSL CEO Salman Naseer addressed the public controversy involving Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen, stressing that such issues must be resolved “behind closed doors,” legally, or in boardrooms.

Intro

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is embarking on its most ambitious structural shift yet: expanding from six to eight teams starting with the 11th edition in 2026. This growth is anticipated to solidify the league’s global standing, increase its overall valuation, and broaden fan engagement across Pakistan. The expansion process hinges on the revaluation of the existing franchises and the subsequent open auction for the two new teams. While prospective new cities like Faisalabad and Sialkot vie for inclusion, the expansion also necessitates a major shift in the tournament schedule, potentially moving the competition into the competitive April–May window. This article details the official announcements, logistical hurdles, commercial implications, and the future outlook for the eight-team PSL.

Expansion Confirmed: PSL’s Road to Eight Teams

Official Word from the PSL CEO

PSL Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman Naseer confirmed that the league is set to expand to eight teams starting with the next edition. This expansion is part of the league’s long-term vision.

Naseer announced that two new franchises will be awarded through an open auction. Interested bidders will be offered a selection of city names, curated by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to ensure balanced geographical representation.

The move is designed to provide “dedicated resources and undivided attention” to the league, which has been registered as a separate entity under the PCB umbrella. Naseer noted that the goal is simple: to let the PSL scale, moving beyond the four traditional centers (Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan).

Why the Process Faced Delays

The timeline for expansion is closely tied to the formal process of reviewing the existing six franchises.

The revaluation and audit of existing teams are crucial preliminary steps. Independent auditors, Ernst & Young (EY), are responsible for delivering the final valuation report. This report will set the new benchmark price for a 10-year extension of franchise rights. Under their current agreements, existing owners have the first right of renewal for the next 10 editions based on the new valuation. If any franchise chooses not to renew, those rights will be offered through an open process.

The sources do not explicitly cite “overlapping PCB duties” or the “Asia Cup” as delaying factors, but the complexity surrounding valuation and management has been a point of public contention. Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen publicly raised concerns regarding management, selective leaks, and valuation opacity. Salman Naseer addressed this controversy, stating the issue is a “family matter” that would be resolved in boardrooms, legally, or behind closed doors, emphasizing that public mudslinging is not how the league operates.

Which Cities Are Likely to Host the New Teams?

The PCB will curate a pool of cities for the new franchises, ensuring balanced geographical representation. Successful bidders will have the final say in choosing the city they wish to represent from the listed options.

Peshawar Leads the Race

Peshawar is strongly considered as a potential venue to be reintegrated into the Pakistan cricket calendar.

• The PCB has started exploring the possibility of including Peshawar as a venue, as the existing Peshawar Zalmi team has been deprived of the chance to play in front of home crowds.
• The PCB is planning to form a ground committee to manage the pitch and allied facilities at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar.
• Scheduling domestic matches in Peshawar during the 2024–25 season is one goal set by Mohsen Naqvi. However, security is a top priority that will be considered before including Peshawar as a venue.

Other Contenders: Faisalabad, Sialkot, Quetta 2.0

While some sources circulated city names earlier, PCB sources clarified that cities such as Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Sialkot, and Faisalabad were named merely as examples and are not confirmed choices. However, these cities remain prominent candidates due to population, commercial appeal, and cricketing history:

• Faisalabad is highly regarded as it is the third biggest city in Pakistan concerning area and economy, and analysts believe it deserves representation. The city’s old team, the Faisalabad Wolves, were the winners of the first-ever Champions League T20.
  
• Sialkot is considered “cricketing royalty” and is a fairly wealthy city with local businessmen who are often cited as potential investors. The former Sialkot Stallions were a highly successful T20 side.
  
• Quetta is also being explored as a potential venue for the existing Quetta Gladiators team, who, like Peshawar Zalmi, have been unable to play in front of their home crowd.

Other cities frequently mentioned by fans and analysts include Rawalpindi (which already hosts Islamabad United), Hyderabad (to cover interior Sindh), Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

What the New Teams Mean for Players and Scheduling

More Local Talent to Enter the Spotlight

The consensus among many is that the expansion is “long over due”.

• Expanded Squads = More Opportunities: The addition of two teams will help accommodate domestic players and other “good players [who] go unsold and miss out in the PSL”.
  
• Enhanced Quality and Exposure: By accommodating more talent, the quality of the tournament is expected to be enhanced, and local players from unrepresented regions will get more exposure.
  
• Debate on Depth: However, some analysts question the depth of quality, suggesting that Pakistan currently lacks the necessary talent pool to fill 22 new spots plus squad members without lowering the standard of the league.

Possible Schedule Shifts

The expansion is forcing a significant adjustment to the league calendar.

• April–May Window Floated: With the addition of two teams from the 2026 season, a window of more than 50 days is required to hold the tournament. The PCB has deemed the months of April and May suitable due to the minimum bilateral cricket played during this time.
  
• Clash with IPL: Holding the PSL in the April–May window means the tournament will clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL). While the PCB views this as a potential “game changer” for the PSL, it may affect the interest and availability of foreign players.
  
• Managing Player Workload & International Call-Ups: The PCB has offered assistance to franchise owners in signing marquee players for several years, and teams may be allowed to directly sign one player outside the draft/auction. The PCB is also looking at new venues, including possibly holding the play-offs and final in England, to manage the increased number of matches (60-plus).

Commercial Implications: Revenue, Sponsorship, and Global Reach

Expansion = Bigger Valuation Stakes

The PCB is actively capitalizing on the league’s increased value.

• Franchise Valuation: The new valuation report by EY will set a new benchmark for team prices. The two new teams are expected to fetch between $7 million and $10 million each (up to Rs 2.5 billion). This price point is indicated to be a floor “significantly higher” than previous historical benchmarks.
  
• Sponsorship Deals: The HBL, the title sponsor for the first decade, has already extended its agreement for two more years at an increase of 505 per cent compared to the inaugural deal in 2016.
  
• New Revenue Streams: The PCB has assured existing franchise owners that upcoming sponsorship and broadcasting deals are expected to increase overall revenues, despite some existing owners fearing a reduction in their central revenue share.

Fan Engagement Beyond Major Cities

The expansion is a strategic move to turn the PSL into a truly national event.

• Targeting New Audiences: The requirement for new teams to choose from a city pool curated for balanced geographical representation shows a push to engage regions previously unrepresented.
  
• Reintegrating Cities: The PCB is actively working to bring matches back to cities like Quetta and Peshawar, which have long been deprived of hosting their home franchises.
  
• Scaling the League: By expanding beyond the four traditional hosting cities (Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan), the league aims to grow the overall fan base, which is seen as essential to giving the league a more professional look.

What to Expect Before PSL 11 Begins

Timeline of Key Decisions

The process is moving rapidly toward finalization for the 2026 season.

• Valuation Completion: The independent auditors (EY) were expected to deliver the final valuation report for existing teams in late October 2025.
  
• Franchise Renewal/Sale: Following the valuation, existing owners will decide whether to renew their rights based on the new figure. An open auction for the two new franchises will follow. PSL CEO Salman Naseer indicated the two new teams might be acquired by the end of 2025.
  
• Finalization: The PCB aims to finalize the expansion process well before the 11th PSL season in 2026.

Will the Expansion Strengthen PSL’s Global Standing?

The primary goal of the governance changes and expansion is to elevate the PSL to become a “globally respected league”.

• Managing the IPL Clash: While the simultaneous scheduling with the IPL (April–May window) is seen by the PCB as a potential “game changer”, observers warn that this clash might damage the quality of the PSL due to the absence of key foreign players.
  
• Connecting with International Markets: The PCB’s interest in hosting the play-offs and final in England is aimed at connecting the league with “big broadcasters and sponsors” globally.
  
• Growth and Investment: If managed successfully, the well-managed expansion, coupled with high franchise fees (up to $10 million), and soaring sponsorship deals (505% increase for the title sponsor), indicates strong investor confidence, which will boost the PSL’s international reputation as a major T20 property.

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