Lahore, January 16, 2026 — The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to enter a new chapter as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially confirmed that the 11th edition of the tournament will begin on March 26, 2026, featuring an expanded eight-team lineup for the first time.
The decision was finalized during a meeting of the PSL Governing Council held at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Friday. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi chaired the session, which brought together representatives of all eight franchises along with senior PCB and PSL officials to review key operational and commercial matters for the upcoming season.
A major highlight of the meeting was the formal welcome extended to the newly added franchises from Sialkot and Hyderabad. The council congratulated the PCB and league management on the successful completion of the franchise auction, through which the Sialkot team was acquired by FKS Group for Rs1.75 billion, while OZ Developers secured the Hyderabad franchise for Rs1.85 billion.
The governing council also held detailed discussions on PSL 11’s match schedule, player retention policies, and squad-building mechanisms. Options under review included the traditional player auction, a hybrid “drauction” model, and the possibility of allowing limited direct player signings.
According to the PCB, PSL 11 will mark a significant milestone in the league’s evolution, reflecting its steady growth since launching with five teams in 2016 and expanding to six in 2018.
Matches during PSL 2026 will be staged across Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan, with Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad set to host PSL games for the first time, further broadening the league’s national footprint.