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The Pakistan Super League (PSL) will hold its first-ever player auction on February 11, 2026, at Lahore’s Expo Center, marking a significant departure from the traditional draft-based player recruitment system.
PSL 11 franchises and key stakeholders will competitively bid for players under a structured framework set by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including defined base price categories, minimum bid increments, and squad-building rules.
Auction regulations require teams to assemble squads of 16 to 20 players, allowing a designated number of foreign players, while mandating inclusion of uncapped Under-23 Pakistani players in both squads and playing XIs.
Ahead of the auction, the PCB conducted a dedicated workshop to brief franchises on bidding procedures, purse limits, player categories, and contract structures, ensuring clarity, consistency, and compliance with the new recruitment framework.
The introduction of an auction-based system aligns the PSL with major global T20 leagues, enhancing transparency, competitiveness, and fan engagement while providing greater clarity and structure for team owners and stakeholders.
In a separate development, the Multan PSL franchise was purchased by Wale Tech for a record 245 crore rupees, establishing the highest-ever franchise price in the history of the league.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi initiated the bidding process for Multan Sultans with a base price of 182 crore rupees, attracting five technically qualified bidders under a regulated and transparent auction process.
CD Ventures opened the bidding at 215 crore rupees, increasing to 226 crore, before Wale Tech secured the franchise with the final bid of 245 crore rupees, confirming ownership and league participation.
A total of six proposals were received within the designated timeframe, and after detailed verification, five bidders were deemed technically eligible, ensuring a fair, transparent, and competitive auction for the Multan franchise.
Following the purchase, Wale Technologies announced the franchise would be renamed Rawalpindi, while former owner Ali Tareen had declined a 10-year renewal, prompting the PCB to auction the team and set a new PSL record.
