HBL PSL expands to eight teams as Hyderabad and Sialkot franchises sold in auction

The HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) officially entered a new era on Thursday as two new franchises were successfully sold at an open auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, expanding the league from six to eight teams ahead of its landmark 11th season.

FKS emerged as the winning bidder for the first new franchise, securing the Hyderabad team for PKR 1.75 billion, while OZ Developers clinched ownership of the Sialkot franchise with a winning bid of PKR 1.85 billion, the highest of the day.

Prior to the auction, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) felicitated the Pakistan Shaheens, winners of the Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 in Doha, along with the Hong Kong Super Sixes champions, acknowledging their recent international successes.

A total of 10 technically qualified bidders took part in the auction after a rigorous evaluation process, competing for two new teams as part of PSL’s long-term growth strategy. The bidders represented a diverse mix of industries, including agrobusiness, telecommunications, real estate, and technology, with participation from both Pakistan-based firms and international companies, including a US-based software company.

The PCB had shortlisted Faisalabad, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi and Sialkot as potential host cities, with Hyderabad and Sialkot ultimately selected, bringing top-tier franchise cricket to two new regions.

The two new franchises will now join established PSL sides: Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, both three-time champions; Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans, completing an expanded eight-team lineup.

The expansion comes on the back of growing global interest in the league, highlighted by successful HBL PSL roadshows in London and New York in December 2025. The 11th edition of the PSL is scheduled to run from 26 March to 3 May 2026, marking a significant milestone in the league’s evolution.

With Hyderabad and Sialkot now confirmed as new franchise homes, the PSL’s footprint continues to widen, reinforcing its status as one of the most competitive T20 leagues in world cricket.