KEY POINTS
- PCB announces ‘FKS’ as tenth qualified bidder for auction of two new PSL franchises.
- The auction will expand PSL from six to eight teams.
- Wasim Akram will serve as brand ambassador and help organize auction.
- New franchise owners will choose a home city from a list including Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.
LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the tenth and final qualified bidder for the upcoming auction of two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises, completing the list of contenders for the high-profile sale set for January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
In a post on its official social media accounts, the board declared: “The bidder lineup stands complete for [New Era]. FKS joins as Bidder [10] out of [10]. All eyes are on auction day on 8 January 2026.”
The bidder lineup stands complete for #NewEra 🔥
FKS joins as Bidder 🔟 out of 🔟. All eyes on auction day on 8 January 2026 🗓️#HBLPSL pic.twitter.com/x1FYVrUE8A
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) January 7, 2026
New teams to choose from six candidate cities
Upon successful acquisition, the owners of the two new franchises will select a home city from a PCB-approved shortlist. The candidate cities are Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.
Wasim Akram appointed ambassador
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram will play a central role in the landmark expansion.
Akram was recently named the brand ambassador for the league’s upcoming 11th edition, a role he has assumed officially since January 1.
Naqvi elaborated on Akram’s expanded duties, stating, “Not only that, but he is also organising key aspects of the auction. There will be an international auctioneer, and Wasim Akram will be actively involved as well.”
Familiar PSL figure takes Centre stage
Akram is no stranger to the PSL ecosystem. He has been a prominent figure for years, most notably serving as President of the Karachi Kings franchise since late 2018.
In that capacity, he acted as a senior advisor and interim coach, famously guiding the team to its first PSL title in 2020 after the sudden passing of head coach Dean Jones.
Among the most prominent confirmed bidders is the Tareen Group, spearheaded by businessman Ali Khan Tareen. His involvement adds a dramatic subplot to the proceedings.
Tareen previously owned the Multan Sultans franchise, which he acquired in 2018 and transformed into a PSL powerhouse, clinching the title in 2021 and becoming a consistent finalist.
Previously, the PCB had disclosed a list of nine qualified bidders, which included Aim Next, Walee, i2c, Prism Estate & Builders, DSM, VGO TEL, the OZ group of companies, Inverex Solar Energy, and Jazz.
The PCB has completed the technical evaluation of proposals from interested investor groups, narrowing the field to these qualified bidders.
The auction will determine the ownership of the two new teams, which will join the existing six sides for the upcoming edition.
A key post-auction process will see the successful bidders selecting a home city from a PCB-approved list.
The shortlisted cities vying to become new PSL hubs are Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.
Cricket analysts suggest the expansion will not only broaden the league’s geographical footprint and fan engagement but also intensify competition and unlock greater commercial potential.
The inclusion of cities like Muzaffarabad and Gilgit is seen as a strategic move to further integrate cricket talent from across the country.
All eyes are now on Islamabad as the PCB prepares to finalise the list of ten bidders and conduct the auction, a move poised to reshape the future landscape of the HBL PSL.
