2026 Pakistan Super League

2026 Pakistan Super League

Administrator	Pakistan Cricket Board
Cricket format	Twenty20
Tournament format(s)	Double round robin and playoffs
Participants	8
Official website	psl-t20.com
← 2025 2027 →

The 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) will be the eleventh season of the Pakistan Super League, a franchise Twenty20 cricket tournament organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The season will mark the league's expansion from six to eight franchises, following the PCB's confirmation that the 2025 edition would be the last with six teams. ^[1] The expansion is part of a broader plan to increase the tournament's commercial value, with new franchises expected to cost between US$7 million and US$10 million each. ^[2]

The PCB and the existing franchises have also agreed to shift the competition window to April - May from 2026 onwards, aiming to improve player availability and reduce clashes with other international T20 leagues such as the IPL. ^[3] The matches are expected to be played across multiple cities in Pakistan, continuing the home-and-away format used in previous editions. ^[4]

Franchise renewal and auction

After the conclusion of the tenth season in 2025, the franchise agreements of the six original teams expired, ending the initial ten-year term signed when the Pakistan Super League was launched in 2016. ^[5] The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) began a valuation process for the league's assets and commercial rights to prepare for a new franchise cycle. ^[6]

All six existing teams, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators expressed interest in continuing under the new agreements, while the PCB also opened discussions for two additional franchises as part of the 2026 expansion plan. ^[7] PCB was also reviewing the financial model and base prices before offering renewals or inviting new bids. ^[8]

The PCB also discussed the possibility of replacing the existing player draft system with an auction format for team selection, starting from the 2026 season. PCB chief executive Salman Naseer said that the proposal was being reviewed but no final decision had been made. ^[9]

Venues

City	Lahore	Multan	Karachi	Rawalpindi	Peshawar	Faisalabad
Stadium	Gaddafi Stadium	Multan Cricket Stadium	National Stadium	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium	Imran Khan Cricket Stadium	Iqbal Stadium
Matches
Home teams	Lahore Qalandars	Multan Sultans	Karachi Kings	Islamabad United	Peshawar Zalmi
Image
Capacity	34,000	30,000	30,000	18,000	35,000	17,000

References

1. "PSL to become eight-team tournament from 2026, confirms PCB". ESPNcricinfo . 17 May 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
2. "HBL PSL planned for expansion with hefty price tags for new teams in 2026". The Express Tribune . 16 March 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
3. "Franchises, PCB all but agree over eight-team PSL, April-May window". Dawn . 18 May 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
4. "PCB considers new schedule and venues for PSL expansion". Geo News . 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
5. "PCB begins PSL asset valuation ahead of major strategic changes". CricExec. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
6. "PSL franchise owners keen to retain rights amid future base price curiosity". The News International . 14 June 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
7. "PSL set to become separate company". The Express Tribune . 23 March 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
8. "PCB Takes a Historic Decision About PSL Ahead of 10th Season". ProPakistani. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
9. "PSL CEO Teases Major Changes in Pakistan Super League 2026". ProPakistani. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.