The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to introduce a player auction for the first time as it prepares for its 11th season, moving away from the draft system that has been in place since the league began.
This change was decided during a recent meeting of the PSL Governing Council at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi chaired the session, which included representatives from all eight franchises as well as senior PCB and PSL officials.
The council had been considering several options for player recruitment: continuing with the usual draft, switching completely to an auction, or using a mix of both, often called a “drauction.” After discussions, the decision leaned toward adopting an auction format, similar to how franchises themselves are sold, to allow teams to bid for players.
Key points from the meeting:
- Naqvi pushed for higher player salaries, noting that franchise values have risen sharply—especially with the recent addition of teams from Sialkot and Hyderabad.
- He stressed the need to give the two new franchises fair chances to build strong squads, which had been a sticking point in earlier talks about retentions.
- The meeting welcomed the new owners and praised the smooth auction process for the expanded league.
PSL 11 will mark a big shift with eight teams competing, up from six in previous seasons. The tournament is scheduled to start on March 26, 2026.
Details on retention policies, purse limits, and the exact auction process are still being worked out. A working group has been formed to handle these and other pending items, with further meetings planned as needed.
This move signals a fresh approach for the PSL, aiming to adjust how teams assemble squads and value players in a growing league.
