PSL set for new era as PCB rolls out auction and expansion plan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced major changes ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, replacing the long-standing draft system with a full player auction . The move is aimed at increasing transparency, improving competitive balance, and offering players better earning opportunities. PSL CEO Salman Naseer said the auction system will help the league grow and align it with global T20 standards.

Along with the auction, the player purse for each franchise has been increased from USD 1.3 million to USD 1.6 million. Teams can now retain up to four players, limited to one player per category, a significant reduction from the previous eight retentions. The PCB has also removed the mentor and brand ambassador roles and abolished the right-to-match option, simplifying the recruitment process. The two new franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot , will be allowed to pick four players from the available pool before the auction, and each team can make one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10.

The PCB is expected to announce detailed auction rules, including timing and bidding format, in the coming weeks. PSL 11 is scheduled to start on March 26, 2026 , with a 44-match schedule and an expanded venue list that includes Faisalabad alongside Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan.