Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League will be played from March 26 to May 3, 2026, spanning a 38-day window.
Next year’s tournament will feature eight teams, with the addition of two new franchises, though the PSL management had decided to keep the window relatively short despite the expanded lineup.
Traditionally, with six teams, the league has operated on a double round-robin format with 34 games, with each team playing the others twice before the top four advance to the playoffs. For the 2026 edition, PCB has yet to release the full fixture structure, but with the tight window, it is likely that there will be more double-headers and possibly a revised format.
Last year, the PSL window was broken into two legs due to the brief Pakistan-India conflict, which delayed the league by 10 days. Despite this disruption, all matches were successfully completed within 34 days. Until the 8th edition, PSL had typically been held in February and March. However, the last two seasons have seen a more compressed calendar due to ICC events and Pakistan’s home fixtures, forcing the PCB to push the league into April and May.
The timing of the 2026 edition is also significant as it overlaps with the Indian Premier League, which runs from March 15 to May 31. This clash has traditionally affected player recruitment, with several top T20 stars opting for the IPL, leaving the PSL with fewer marquee signings. The PCB, however, views this positively. Players who commit to the PSL under the current arrangement will be fully available for their franchises, eliminating the risk of mid-season departures or partial-season contracts that have affected teams in the past.
While the window is tighter, franchises now have more clarity to plan their rosters and training schedules. The draft for the league will not be organized before the end of January, as the PSL is currently underway with the tendering process for the two new teams. The franchise auction is scheduled for January 8 in Islamabad.
Next year’s tournament will feature eight teams, with the addition of two new franchises, though the PSL management had decided to keep the window relatively short despite the expanded lineup.
Traditionally, with six teams, the league has operated on a double round-robin format with 34 games, with each team playing the others twice before the top four advance to the playoffs. For the 2026 edition, PCB has yet to release the full fixture structure, but with the tight window, it is likely that there will be more double-headers and possibly a revised format.
Last year, the PSL window was broken into two legs due to the brief Pakistan-India conflict, which delayed the league by 10 days. Despite this disruption, all matches were successfully completed within 34 days. Until the 8th edition, PSL had typically been held in February and March. However, the last two seasons have seen a more compressed calendar due to ICC events and Pakistan’s home fixtures, forcing the PCB to push the league into April and May.
The timing of the 2026 edition is also significant as it overlaps with the Indian Premier League, which runs from March 15 to May 31. This clash has traditionally affected player recruitment, with several top T20 stars opting for the IPL, leaving the PSL with fewer marquee signings. The PCB, however, views this positively. Players who commit to the PSL under the current arrangement will be fully available for their franchises, eliminating the risk of mid-season departures or partial-season contracts that have affected teams in the past.
While the window is tighter, franchises now have more clarity to plan their rosters and training schedules. The draft for the league will not be organized before the end of January, as the PSL is currently underway with the tendering process for the two new teams. The franchise auction is scheduled for January 8 in Islamabad.
