Islamabad, December 28, 2025: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has officially appointed former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram as the brand ambassador for the upcoming 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Speaking at a press briefing, Naqvi described the move as a strategic effort to strengthen the PSL brand and enhance fan engagement. “The best thing for the PSL and the PSL brand is that Wasim Akram has been appointed as the brand ambassador. From January 1, he will officially take on this role,” he said.
Naqvi added that Akram will also play a key role in organising the PSL auction, which will feature an international auctioneer. “Wasim Akram will be actively involved as well,” he noted.
The left-arm pace legend has been closely associated with the PSL for years, serving as President of the Karachi Kings franchise since late 2018. In this capacity, he acted as senior advisor and occasionally as interim coach, guiding the team to its maiden PSL title in 2020 following the tragic passing of head coach Dean Jones.
Meanwhile, the PCB has made significant progress on the league’s planned expansion. The board announced that its Bid Committee had completed the technical evaluation of bids submitted by parties interested in acquiring ownership of two new PSL franchises.
A total of 12 proposals were received from bidders across five continents, and after a three-day evaluation process, 10 bidders were shortlisted for meeting the technical criteria and qualifying for the next stage.
“The PCB Bid Committee has successfully completed the technical evaluation of proposals submitted for the sale of two new HBL PSL franchise teams,” the board said in an official statement. The shortlisted bidders will participate in the auction scheduled for January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. Franchise owners will have the option to select team locations from six shortlisted cities: Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi.
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five teams and expanded to six in 2018, is set for further growth with the addition of two new franchises in its 11th edition next year, marking continued development and increased competitiveness in Pakistan’s premier T20 league.
