The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the 12th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will run from March 18 to May 2, with matches spread across five to six cities in Pakistan. The board made the announcement on Friday. It also confirmed that the player auction will take place on January 23.
The decisions were agreed at a meeting of the PSL Governing Council, chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer, franchise representatives and other officials attended the session. The direct signing window for PSL 12 will open on October 23 and close on November 23.
Direct signing rules and pre-season schedule
Under the arrangement, each franchise can directly sign one marquee player. That player must not have featured in either of the two previous PSL seasons. The remaining squads will then be built through the auction.
The PCB also said a cricket workshop for PSL stakeholders will be held next week. It will discuss preparations ahead of the new edition. Before the HBL PSL begins, the National T20 Cup, which includes Gold and Silver categories, will be staged. The board said this gives domestic players a chance to compete before the country’s premier T20 league.
Naqvi outlines plans to widen the league’s reach
Speaking at the meeting, Naqvi described the HBL PSL as the biggest stage for cricket in Pakistan. He said the board intended to build on the success of the previous season. “The 11th season concluded in front of record crowds, and we will carry that momentum forward,” Naqvi said.
He added that the PCB wanted to extend the league’s reach by taking matches to additional cities across the country. “We will take the PSL to more cities this time,” the PCB chairman said. The board is expected to gain wider access to fans nationwide through this move, although it has not yet released the final list of host cities.
Franchises begin building squads for PSL 12
Naseer said the competition among franchises to assemble their strongest squads had started with the opening of the direct signing window. “From today, the race for every franchise to build the best squad for HBL PSL 12 begins,” Naseer said.
With the tournament dates and initial recruitment framework now announced, franchises are expected to start planning their squad strategies. The PSL has become a major part of Pakistan’s cricket calendar, drawing large crowds and international players. The PCB’s plan to stage the next edition in more cities is aimed at taking the tournament beyond its traditional venues.
