The Pakistan Super League is moving towards a major expansion, as the PCB is considering an open bidding process for two additional franchises ahead of the tournament’s 11th edition, which is expected to take place in the April–May window next year (2026).
According to Geo Super, the valuation phase of the league is in its final stretch, and interested buyers may soon be able to bid for the new teams through an open auction.
Once the ownership is finalised, the franchise holders will also have the authority to choose the team names and select their preferred city from a list provided by the Pakistan Super League (PSL) management.
READ: PSL shares growth data with stakeholders
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five teams — Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators — expanded to six sides in 2018 with the arrival of Multan Sultans.
Since then, the league has continued with six teams, though talks of further expansion have surfaced from time to time.
Earlier this year, PSL COO Salman Naseer openly hinted that the addition of two more teams is a strong possibility before the year ends.
“By the end of this year, we might get two more teams,” Naseer told local media.
He reflected on the journey of the league and highlighted how the next phase is about growing beyond Pakistan’s main cricket hubs.
“We started at a time when no cricket was happening in Pakistan. The challenge was to bring it back. Now that we’ve successfully brought cricket back to traditional centres, the next step is expanding beyond these four cities (Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan).”
The PCB has already stated that PSL 10 would be the final season with six teams, confirming that the expansion plan is aligned with the 2026 edition.
