Lahore, January 11, 2026: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) Governing Council is set to hold a crucial virtual meeting on Thursday, sources told a private news channel on Sunday. This will be the first session following the addition of two new franchises, bringing the total number of teams in PSL 11 to eight.
The meeting is expected to cover several important issues ahead of the 11th edition of the tournament, including player retention, the players’ draft, auction-related matters, and the final tournament schedule. Discussions may also focus on increasing player salaries and finalizing direct signings.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly aiming to commence PSL 11 on March 23, instead of the previously proposed March 26, although the timing may be affected by Eid celebrations. Franchise representatives are expected to be consulted before finalizing the start date.
In a related development, sources said the PCB plans to auction the Multan Sultans franchise after taking temporary control of the team following the expiry of its ownership agreement on December 31, 2025.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had confirmed on December 28 that the board would operate the franchise for PSL 11 before initiating the auction process in 2027. “Multan Sultans will be operated by the PCB this year. Once the PSL concludes, we will carry out the auction and put the franchise up for sale. For this season, the board will run the Sultans,” Naqvi said.
The PCB expects this arrangement to save around $4 million, as it avoids contributing $3 million from the central pool and an additional $1 million in sponsorship funds. However, an audit report noted that the board would forgo the $8.5 million franchise fee for the year.
An interim management structure for Multan Sultans will be appointed shortly, with a professional cricketer brought in to manage the team for this season.
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five teams and expanded to six in 2018, is set to grow further with the addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot franchises. The historic auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre last Thursday saw FKS Group and OZ Developers secure ownership of the two new teams for Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion, respectively.
Multan Sultans were originally awarded to the Schon Group for $5.2 million, making them the most expensive franchise at the time—double the acquisition cost of Karachi Kings. Relations between the PCB and former owner Ali Tareen had reportedly deteriorated over the past year, leading to Tareen stepping away from the team last November.
