KEY POINTS
- Ten qualified bidders will compete in open auction for two new PSL franchises.
- Auction to begin at 4.15pm and will be live-streamed on PSL, PCB official YouTube Channels.
- Auction will be broadcast live and feature performance by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
ISLAMABAD: The stage is set for a landmark moment in Pakistan’s sporting history as the gavel prepares to fall on the auction for two new franchises in Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Thursday, January 8.
The high-stakes event, poised to reshape the league’s landscape, will unfold at the Jinnah Convention Centre, commencing at 4:15 PM.
In a blend of corporate showdown and national celebration, the proceedings will be broadcast live, inviting millions of fans to witness the birth of new cricketing dynasties.
The ceremony will be elevated by a soul-stirring performance from legendary vocalist Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who will take the stage following the climactic conclusion of the bidding war.
Prelude of pride
Before the battle for ownership begins, the air will be thick with national pride.
The ceremony will open with a heartfelt felicitation for Pakistan’s rising stars, the triumphant squads of the Pakistan Shaheens, crowned Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 champions in Doha, and the victorious Hong Kong Super Sixes team.
Their achievements will set a triumphant tone for an evening dedicated to cricket’s future.
Magnificent ten: A corporate coliseum
At the heart of the event are ten technically qualified bidders, a formidable consortium representing the might of Pakistani and international enterprise.
From agrobusiness giants and telecom titans to real estate moguls, a U.S.-based software pioneer, and homegrown tech innovators, this diverse pool underscores the PSL’s immense commercial allure.
These bidders, Aim Next, Deharki Sugar Mills, FKS, Inverex, i2c, Jazz, OZ Developers, Prism Developers, VGO TEL, and Walee Technologies, will engage in an open auction, their ambitions fixed on securing a coveted spot in Pakistan’s premier sporting spectacle.
City’s identity and league’s legacy
The reward for the victorious bidders is twofold: the chance to etch a new name alongside established giants like Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, and the right to choose a home city from a carefully curated shortlist.
The aspirant hubs, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi, and Sialkot, each await the opportunity to become the beating heart of a new franchise.
This expansion from six to eight teams for the landmark 11th season (scheduled from 26 March to 3 May 2026) marks the league’s most significant evolution, promising intensified rivalries, broader national representation, and a fresh chapter of cricketing folklore.
Journey of global ambition
The auction culminates a journey that captured global attention, following massively successful PSL roadshows in London and New York last December.
The international interest translated into 12 initial bids, meticulously narrowed down to the final ten after a rigorous technical evaluation.
As the final hours tick down, anticipation reaches a fever pitch. Tomorrow, under the glittering lights of the capital, the future of the PSL will be decided, not just by financial might, but by a vision to join a legacy and inspire a nation.
