Pakistan Super League (PSL) player auction is scheduled for 23 January 2027, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) opening a direct-signing window for all franchises.
The window opens on 23 October and closes on 23 November, allowing each franchise may sign one marquee player who did not feature in the previous two seasons.
The PCB said it will organise National T20 Gold and National T20 Silver tournaments ahead of the auction. The competitions will serve as talent-identification events and provide a pathway for domestic players seeking opportunities in the PSL.
The upcoming PSL season will retain its existing format, with each franchise playing 10 group-stage matches. Teams will face each other once in the first round, while the remaining fixtures will be determined by the league management, taking into account factors such as the commercial appeal of the match-ups.
The tournament is expected to feature three derby fixtures: Lahore against Karachi, Rawalpindi against Islamabad and Karachi against Hyderabad, with each pairing scheduled to meet for a second time in the group stage. A total of 44 matches will be played across five venues over 46 days.
Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan have traditionally hosted PSL matches, with Faisalabad added to the list for the upcoming season. Peshawar remains a potential sixth venue, although the PCB has yet to confirm whether matches will be played there.
The PCB's press releases refer to the tournament being held “across five to six venues”, suggesting that the final number of host cities has not yet been confirmed.
The PSL season however will coincide with the South Asian Games, which are scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 3 to 11 April, with Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad among the host cities.
It remains unclear whether PSL matches will be played in Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad during the Games. The PCB has yet to confirm the scheduling arrangements, although it is understood that PSL fixtures during this period could be spread across the other venues, allowing both events to proceed within the same window. Both events are significant sporting events for Pakistan.
"HBL PSL is Pakistan cricket's biggest stage and Season 12 will be its most ambitious yet," PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement. "HBL PSL 11 ended before a record crowd and we are building on that momentum by taking the league to more cities than ever before. The road map we have finalised and are partially announcing today gives every stakeholder, from franchises and players to commercial partners and broadcasters, the certainty to plan at the highest level. With the foundations now in place, we are looking forward to an exciting season."
The PSL expanded last season, adding two franchises, Rawalpindiz and Hyderabad Kingsmen, while Multan Sultans changed ownership, moving from the Tareen Group to Gohar Shah.
The two new teams had contrasting campaigns in their debut season. Rawalpindi struggled, losing 9 of their 10 group-stage matches, while Hyderabad reached the final but were beaten by Peshawar Zalmi. Lahore Qalandars (5th), Karachi Kings (6th), Quetta Gladiators (7th), Rawalpindiz (8th). Both Islamabad United and Sultans crashed out of playoff.
The window opens on 23 October and closes on 23 November, allowing each franchise may sign one marquee player who did not feature in the previous two seasons.
The PCB said it will organise National T20 Gold and National T20 Silver tournaments ahead of the auction. The competitions will serve as talent-identification events and provide a pathway for domestic players seeking opportunities in the PSL.
The upcoming PSL season will retain its existing format, with each franchise playing 10 group-stage matches. Teams will face each other once in the first round, while the remaining fixtures will be determined by the league management, taking into account factors such as the commercial appeal of the match-ups.
The tournament is expected to feature three derby fixtures: Lahore against Karachi, Rawalpindi against Islamabad and Karachi against Hyderabad, with each pairing scheduled to meet for a second time in the group stage. A total of 44 matches will be played across five venues over 46 days.
Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan have traditionally hosted PSL matches, with Faisalabad added to the list for the upcoming season. Peshawar remains a potential sixth venue, although the PCB has yet to confirm whether matches will be played there.
The PCB's press releases refer to the tournament being held “across five to six venues”, suggesting that the final number of host cities has not yet been confirmed.
The PSL season however will coincide with the South Asian Games, which are scheduled to take place in Pakistan from 3 to 11 April, with Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad among the host cities.
It remains unclear whether PSL matches will be played in Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad during the Games. The PCB has yet to confirm the scheduling arrangements, although it is understood that PSL fixtures during this period could be spread across the other venues, allowing both events to proceed within the same window. Both events are significant sporting events for Pakistan.
"HBL PSL is Pakistan cricket's biggest stage and Season 12 will be its most ambitious yet," PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement. "HBL PSL 11 ended before a record crowd and we are building on that momentum by taking the league to more cities than ever before. The road map we have finalised and are partially announcing today gives every stakeholder, from franchises and players to commercial partners and broadcasters, the certainty to plan at the highest level. With the foundations now in place, we are looking forward to an exciting season."
The PSL expanded last season, adding two franchises, Rawalpindiz and Hyderabad Kingsmen, while Multan Sultans changed ownership, moving from the Tareen Group to Gohar Shah.
The two new teams had contrasting campaigns in their debut season. Rawalpindi struggled, losing 9 of their 10 group-stage matches, while Hyderabad reached the final but were beaten by Peshawar Zalmi. Lahore Qalandars (5th), Karachi Kings (6th), Quetta Gladiators (7th), Rawalpindiz (8th). Both Islamabad United and Sultans crashed out of playoff.
