PSL Expands to Eight Teams, Moves to April-May Window

English , Snippets , Sports - کھیل اور کھلاڑی , / Sunday, May 19th, 2024

Lahore: With two more teams set to join the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2026, the current six franchises have agreed to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposal to shift the tournament to the April-May window.

This consensus was reached during a meeting between franchise representatives and PCB officials. With Pakistan hosting the ICC Champions Trophy next year, the PSL must move to April-May. This change will apply to future editions, increasing the number of matches due to team expansion.

The new schedule will clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL), potentially affecting foreign player participation. However, the PCB finds this window suitable due to minimal bilateral cricket during this period.

“As the PSL expands from six to eight teams in 2026, a window of more than 50 days is required,” a source told Dawn. “April and May are the only months with minimal bilateral cricket because of the IPL schedule.”

The final approval for the new dates will be given in the next general council meeting. The PCB is also considering holding the PSL play-offs and final in England and plans to meet with the England and Wales Cricket Board soon.

The PCB is exploring new venues, including Quetta and Peshawar, to accommodate the expanded schedule. The board will form a committee to manage pitches and facilities at Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar, with security as a top priority.

Additionally, the PCB offered franchise owners assistance in signing marquee players for multiple years and discussed the option for each team to directly sign one player.