PSL to Expand to Eight Teams in 2026, Clash with IPL

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to expand to eight teams from 2026, marking a significant milestone in the league's history. This expansion was officially confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a media release, with the upcoming 2025 season being the "last six-team event."

The expansion will be the first time new teams have joined the PSL since 2018, when the Multan Sultans were added. The process for selecting the cities that will represent the new teams has yet to begin.

The year following the tenth season could bring significant changes to the PSL, as the ten-year lease ownership agreements with franchise owners expire in 2025. All six current owners have the right of first refusal, meaning they can match any offers for their franchises.

However, a more contentious issue is the timing of the PSL in relation to the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Champions Trophy will be played in the traditional PSL window in February-March, and with the ILT20 and SA20 also competing for attention, the PCB is seeking a more reliable window.

The PCB's preferred solution is to move the PSL to April and May, creating a six-week window from April 7 to May 20 next year. This would directly clash with the IPL, and the PCB aims to make this the PSL's permanent window.

Most PSL franchises initially opposed this idea due to concerns about player availability and the potential for the PSL to be overshadowed by the IPL. However, the PCB remains confident that the franchises will eventually agree.

To address concerns about player availability, the PCB has offered to tweak player recruitment rules and allow franchises to sign one marquee player independently of the draft. The league's expansion to eight teams would also necessitate a larger window, with the three-month window currently carved out for the IPL providing enough time for a slightly extended PSL.

However, this also means that the PSL will likely only have overseas players available who go unselected at the IPL, given the large financial disparity between the two leagues.

The PCB is also exploring the possibility of hosting the playoffs and final of PSL 2025 in the UK if the April/May window is finalized. This move would mitigate against the unseasonably hot weather in Lahore in mid-May and also globalize the reach of the PSL.

Tags: #PSL, #PSLExpansion, #Cricket, #PakistanCricket, #IPL