Overview:
The 11th season of the PSL will begin on March 26, with Faisalabad being introduced as one of the host cities for the upcoming tournament.
In a major shift for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that an auction system will replace the draft format ahead of the 11th edition. This decision brings an end to the draft method that has been in place since 2016.
The new auction-based model, influenced by the Indian Premier League (IPL), aims to bring greater transparency and promote a more competitive balance across franchises. Additionally, the PCB has increased the franchise purse from USD 1.3 million to USD 1.6 million for the player auction.
While numerous leagues globally have adopted the auction format inspired by the IPL’s success, the PSL had continued with a lottery-based draft, much like the systems used in American sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB.
According to PSL CEO Salman Naseer, the changes were introduced to promote the league’s sustained growth and strengthen its future prospects.
In the updated structure, franchises will be allowed to retain four players, with only one retention allowed per category. In the past, teams could retain as many as eight players, which included a mentor and a brand ambassador, along with a Right to Match (RTM) option that enabled them to add a ninth player during the draft.
The PCB has abolished the roles of mentors, brand ambassadors, and the RTM option. Naseer also confirmed that the newly introduced teams, Hyderabad and Sialkot, will have the chance to select four players each from the available pool prior to the auction.
Franchises will have the option to sign one foreign player directly who didn’t play in PSL 10, providing teams with an opportunity to strengthen their rosters with fresh international talent. The 11th season of the PSL will begin on March 26, with Faisalabad being introduced as one of the host cities for the upcoming tournament.