Pakistan Cricket Board Announces Major Changes In PSL

In a landmark move for Pakistan’s premier T20 tournament, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the PSL Governing Council officially announced sweeping structural reforms on January 19, 2026.

Following a decade of the draft-based model, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 will transition to a Player Auction system, mirroring the format of the IPL and enhancing the league’s global commercial appeal.

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Key Structural Reforms for PSL 11 (2026)

The upcoming season marks the beginning of a “New Era” for the league, focusing on transparency and increased player valuations.

• The Auction System: Replacing the traditional draft, the auction model aims to increase competitive balance and provide players with higher earning potential.
• Increased Salary Purse: The total player purse for each franchise has been raised to USD 1.6 million (up from USD 1.3 million).
• Retention Policy:
  • Existing franchises can retain a maximum of 4 players.
  • Retention is strictly limited to one player per category (Platinum, Diamond, etc.).
  • The “Right to Match” (RTM), Brand Ambassador, and Mentor slots have been abolished to ensure more star players enter the auction pool.
• Direct Overseas Signing: Each team is allowed one direct signing of a foreign player who did not participate in PSL 10.

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Expansion: New Teams & Venues

The league is officially expanding from six to eight franchises in 2026, significantly increasing the number of matches.

• New Franchises: Hyderabad (bought by FKS Group for ₹1.75bn) and Sialkot (bought by OZ Developers for a record ₹1.85bn) join the roster.
• Pre-Auction Picks: The two new teams will be allowed to select and retain four players from the available pool before the auction begins to help them build a competitive core.
• New Venue: Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium has been added as a host venue, joining Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar.

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PSL 11 Schedule

The PCB has locked in the window for the 11th edition to avoid a total clash with other major ICC events:

• Start Date: March 26, 2026
• Final Date: May 3, 2026