PCB confirms addition of two new teams from 2026 season

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the expansion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from six to eight teams starting from the 2026 season. 

This confirmation was made in a statement released by the PCB on Friday, designating the upcoming 2025 season as the "last six-team event."

The decision to expand the league follows a long-standing agreement between the PCB and the existing PSL franchises to defer adding new teams until after the tenth season. The Multan Sultans, who joined in 2018, were the only addition to the original five franchises. The process to determine which cities the new teams will represent has yet to commence.

The transition to an eight-team league comes at a pivotal time, as the ten-year lease agreements with current franchise owners are set to expire in 2025. 

Despite joining two years later, the Multan Sultans' lease will also be up for renewal. All six franchise owners hold the right of first refusal, ensuring they can retain ownership by matching their franchise's valuation.

One of the more contentious issues surrounding the PSL's future is its scheduling. The traditional PSL window in February-March will be occupied by the Champions Trophy next year, and the ILT20 and SA20 leagues are also competing for the same period. 

Consequently, the PCB is considering shifting the PSL to an April-May window, directly overlapping with the Indian Premier League (IPL).

This proposal has faced resistance from PSL franchises due to concerns over player availability and competition with the IPL. At least three of the six franchises are opposed to the change. 

However, a PCB official expressed confidence that the franchises would eventually agree. The PCB holds the final decision-making power through the PSL governing council.

To address concerns over player availability, the PCB has proposed adjusting player recruitment rules and increasing financial flexibility, allowing each franchise to sign one marquee player independently of the draft. This move is intended to attract top talent despite the scheduling conflict with the IPL. The league's expansion also requires a larger window, with the IPL’s three-month duration providing a feasible model for an extended PSL season.

The scheduling clash means the PSL might only attract overseas players not selected by the IPL, potentially excluding high-profile players like Rashid Khan from participating. Khan, currently retained by Lahore Qalandars, is expected to favor the IPL if the two leagues overlap.

In addition, the PCB is exploring the possibility of hosting the PSL 2025 playoffs and final in the UK to avoid the extreme heat in Lahore during mid-May. 

This move aims to enhance the league's global reach and is considered more cost-effective than hosting in the UAE.