The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the player auction for the eleventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), scheduled to take place on February 11. This announcement was made in a press release issued on Sunday. The upcoming season will adopt an auction model, replacing the previous draft system.
The PCB held a detailed workshop at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, chaired by chairman Mohsin Naqvi and attended by representatives from all eight franchises, PSL officials, and members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad. During this workshop, the cricket board shared information about the mechanics of the retention process and the auction, consulting with all participants.
The PCB confirmed that the HBL PSL Player Auction will take place on Wednesday, February 11. They also revealed the base prices for players, specifying that the “auction price and minimum incremental bids would be in Pakistani Rupees.” The top bracket’s base price was set at Rs42 million, followed by Rs22 million, Rs11 million, and Rs6 million.
The PCB outlined specific requirements for squad composition. Each franchise must have a minimum of 16 players with up to 20, including five to seven foreign players (with a mandatory inclusion of three to four). Additionally, each team is required to include at least two uncapped Under-23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
Following the HBL PSL 11 Players Auction, teams will be permitted to retain up to seven players for the subsequent edition. Afterward, a grand auction will allow franchises to retain five more players through retentions or by signing directly signed foreign players who have not participated in the previous season. Each franchise is entitled to sign one additional foreign player, increasing their purse from Rs450 million to Rs505 million.
The PCB emphasized that this shift represents a significant step forward for the HBL PSL, as it offers players better financial opportunities and provides a transparent acquisition process while enhancing league competitiveness and attractiveness. Furthermore, the upcoming season will feature two new franchises—Hyderabad and Sialkot—which will raise the total number of teams to eight.
The eleventh edition of the PSL is scheduled for March 26 through May 3, 2026. The PCB also announced its contribution towards acquiring elite foreign players for the upcoming season.