Lahore, October 23,2026: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday opened the direct signing window for all eight franchises ahead of the 12th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), announcing a pre-season roadmap featuring a player auction and matches across five to six venues.
According to the PCB, PSL 12 will run from March 18 to May 2, 2027, featuring 44 matches over 46 days, including 40 league fixtures and four playoff matches.
The direct signing window opened on October 23 and will remain available until November 23, 2026. During this period, each franchise can directly sign one marquee player who did not feature in PSL 10 or PSL 11.
The player auction is scheduled for January 23, 2027, while the tournament final will be held on May 2.
In a significant step towards strengthening Pakistan’s domestic cricket pipeline, the PCB has aligned its domestic competition calendar with the PSL pre-season cycle, the board said in a statement.
The National T20 Gold and National T20 Silver tournaments will serve as key talent-identification events ahead of the auction, providing domestic performers with a pathway into the country’s premier T20 franchise league and potential consideration for the national team.
A franchise workshop is scheduled for next week to finalise the player-retention deadline, pre-auction trade window, auction rules and playing conditions.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the 12th edition would be the league’s “most ambitious yet”.
“We are building momentum by taking the league to more cities than ever before,” he added.
Naqvi said the roadmap would provide franchises, players, commercial partners and broadcasters with greater certainty as they prepare for the upcoming season.
PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer said the league would expand its geographical reach.
“For the first time, PSL will go to five to six venues, bringing the league closer to fans across Pakistan and giving more cities the chance to host the best of T20 cricket,” he said.
He added that franchise decisions on direct signings, trades and player retentions in the coming weeks would shape the squads for the tournament beginning in March.
The PCB said further announcements regarding pre-season arrangements were expected in the coming weeks.
