After successfully hosting ten seasons of the Pakistan Super League, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set its sights on a bold new chapter of PSL expansion, which would see eight teams compete in the tournament scheduled for next year.
While PCB has hinted at PSL expansion previously, there are now concrete reports that the process is moving ahead with an independent valuation of the six existing franchises, which will modernise the league’s financial model and prepare the groundwork for future teams.
As highlighted first by Umar Farooq Kalson, this valuation process will play a dual role: reassessing the market worth of current franchises and setting a base price for potential new entrants. Any expansion, however, will come with revised financial commitments—current franchises will need to pay either 25% more than their existing fee or 25% of their updated market value, whichever is greater.
The timing of the move is strategic. The PSL has witnessed consistent growth over the past decade—in television rights, sponsorship deals, ticket sales, and international reach. Industry insiders suggest the league is now in a strong position to accommodate new franchises, both in terms of infrastructure and fan interest.
This potential PSL expansion comes after years of growing commercial success. When the PSL launched in 2016, it began as a five-team league with matches held in the UAE. By 2018, the entire tournament had shifted to Pakistan, a landmark transition that boosted domestic engagement and elevated the league’s status as the country’s flagship T20 product.
The league currently features six franchises: Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, and Multan Sultans. Among the original five teams, Karachi is the most expensive with an annual reported fee of USD 2.6 million, followed closely by Lahore (USD 2.5 million), Peshawar (USD 1.6 million), Islamabad (USD 1.5 million), and Quetta (USD 1.1 million)—figures that were fixed at the league’s inception.
Multan Sultans entered the fray in 2018 when the Schön Group bought the sixth slot for USD 5.2 million per year. However, the agreement was terminated within a season due to payment issues. The franchise was re-tendered and acquired by the Tareen family for a record USD 6.3 million annually, making them the highest-paying team in PSL history.
With fresh valuations, that number is sure to grow even further for each team.
The league’s financial structure has remained a topic of contention between the board and the six franchises. Teams have argued that the revenue-sharing model heavily favors the board, which even led to a collective legal challenge in 2021. That arbitration process ultimately led to a recalibration of the revenue-sharing model. From the seventh edition onwards, franchises began receiving 95% of income from all central revenue streams, including media rights, sponsorships, and gate receipts.
Now, with a stronger and fairer financial foundation in place, the PSL is ready to grow. The valuation exercise will likely take into account new revenue streams as well and ensure that expansion aligns with market realities, offering transparency to both existing and future stakeholders.
A move to eight teams would not only deepen the league’s competitive balance, but also offer more opportunities for emerging players and greater regional representation. If the PCB follows through with its expansion plans, the next edition of the PSL could mark the beginning of a new era—bigger, bolder, and more inclusive.