The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has officially expanded to eight teams with the addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot as new franchises, marking the league’s second major expansion ahead of its landmark 11th season.
The expansion was finalized on Thursday following a competitive auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, which was also live-streamed. FKS secured the Hyderabad franchise for Rs1.75 billion, while OZ Developers acquired the Sialkot team for Rs1.85 billion.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), all 10 pre-qualified bidders participated in the auction, submitting competitive bids for ownership of the two new teams. The PCB had earlier confirmed that the HBL PSL would grow from six to eight teams for its 11th edition, scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, 2026.
The PCB stated that the bidding pool included a diverse range of local and international businesses from sectors such as agribusiness, telecommunications, real estate, and technology, including a US-based software company.
Hyderabad and Sialkot were selected from a shortlist of potential host cities that also included Faisalabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, and Rawalpindi. The expansion follows the success of PSL roadshows held in London and New York in December 2025, which generated strong international interest.
In total, 12 parties initially submitted bids for the new franchises, with 10 qualifying after a technical evaluation process.
Meanwhile, former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen withdrew from the auction, stating that his association with the PSL has always been rooted in representing south Punjab rather than franchise ownership. In a statement shared on X, Tareen said he would support the league as a fan for now and expressed willingness to return if the Multan franchise is offered for sale again.
The expanded PSL is expected to further strengthen Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure and commercial appeal.