The Pakistan Cricket Board is exploring the idea of expanding the Pakistan Super League and has shortlisted six cities for potential new teams. The board has opened the door for interested parties to bid for franchise rights, which will be granted for a 10-year period.
Earlier, PSL CEO Salman Naseer confirmed that the new teams will be awarded through an auction. Bidders will be free to choose any of the approved cities, and the board is now gearing up to begin the tender process for adding two new sides. This step marks a major move toward taking the league into its next phase.
Six Cities Shortlisted for New PSL Teams
After completing an independent valuation of existing PSL franchises and related commercial assets, the PCB has sent renewal offers to the current team owners. Following this assessment, six cities have been identified as potential homes for the two new teams. These are Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi.
The final choice of cities will depend on the auction results, as bidders will have the freedom to select from the approved list.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the completion of the independent valuation process for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises and other commercial assets,” the statement read.
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“Following the conclusion of this exercise, renewal offer letters reflecting the new franchise fees for the next 10 years have been formally shared with all compliant PSL Franchises, requesting them to revert with their decision within the stipulated timeline.”
Independent Franchise Valuation Completed
The complete valuation was carried out by global auditing firm EY MENA. The six current teams, Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Peshawar Zalmi, and Multan Sultans, have each received updated renewal proposals that outline revised financial terms for the coming decade.
Franchise owners have been given a deadline to respond. To keep the process transparent and open, the PCB has arranged detailed meetings between valuation experts and franchises. These discussions allow teams to understand how their valuations were calculated and give them the chance to raise questions or request more clarity before making their final decisions for the new PSL cycle.
Franchise Fees Rise Ahead of PSL 2026
According to the audit results, franchise fees have increased significantly, with some rising between 75 and 150 percent. Renewal letters have already been issued to all six teams.
“The audit firm has sent renewal letters to the six franchises reflecting the new annual franchise fees for the next 10 years and the teams have been requested to revert with their decisions in the given time frame,” one official said.
Multan Sultans continues to be the most valuable team, with an annual fee of USD 6.35 million. The other teams fall between USD 2.6 million and 1.3 million.
PSL 2026 Schedule Still Undecided
The PCB also reviewed several long-term plans for the league’s future. However, no final decision has been taken yet regarding the schedule for PSL’s 11th edition. As things stand, the upcoming season is once again expected to run alongside the Indian Premier League window from March to May next year.
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