LAHORE, Pakistan: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram as the brand ambassador of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) ahead of its 11th edition, as the board also confirmed plans to operate the Multan Sultans franchise this season and push ahead with league expansion.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the developments while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Sunday.
Naqvi said legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram would serve as the brand ambassador for PSL 11, underlining the board’s efforts to strengthen the league’s global profile ahead of its next edition.
Akram is one of Pakistan’s most celebrated cricketers and remains a prominent international figure in the sport.
The PCB chairman said the board was considering starting PSL 11 on March 23 instead of the originally planned March 26.
“We want to start the PSL from March 23 instead of March 26, and a final decision will be made after consultation with all franchises,” Naqvi said.
He added that no final decision had yet been taken and discussions with franchise owners were ongoing.
PCB to operate Multan Sultans this season
Naqvi confirmed that the PCB would operate the Multan Sultans franchise for the upcoming season of PSL.
“The franchise will be auctioned after the PSL concludes,” he said.
The announcement comes around a month after Ali Tareen said he was stepping away from the franchise.
Multan Sultans were originally awarded as the sixth PSL team to the Schon Group. The PCB later terminated the deal after franchise payments were not made.
In 2018, Alamgir Tareen, along with his nephew Ali Tareen, acquired the franchise for $6.3 million.
Bidding for new teams on Jan 8
Naqvi said bidding for two new PSL teams would take place on January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
“It is an important day for us, and our teams will sell well,” he said, adding that 10 parties had qualified for the second round of the auction.
The PCB confirmed earlier that its bid committee had shortlisted 10 bidders after completing the technical evaluation process.
The board received 12 proposals from interested parties, which were reviewed over three days.
According to the PCB, investors from the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have expressed interest in acquiring the new franchises.
The successful bidders will be allowed to select franchise names from six cities: Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad and Sialkot.
PSL Chief Executive Salman Naseer congratulated the shortlisted bidders and welcomed the strong interest from both local and international investors.
“The league looks forward to achieving another significant milestone in the expansion,” Naseer said, adding that preparations were under way for the auction.
The PSL began in 2016 with five franchises and expanded to six teams in 2018. With the addition of two new sides in its 11th edition, the league will grow to eight franchises.
The expansion will mark the PSL’s first major restructuring in seven years, as the PCB seeks to further commercialise and internationalise Pakistan’s flagship T20 tournament.
