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.

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.

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.