PSL 12 player auction scheduled for January 23, league to be held in up to six cities

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) will hold its 12th edition from March 18 to May 2 across five to six cities in Pakistan, while the player auction has been scheduled for January 23, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday.

The decisions were taken during a meeting of the PSL Governing Council chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The meeting was attended by PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer, franchise representatives and other officials.

According to the decisions announced at the meeting, the direct signing window for PSL 12 will run from October 23 to November 23. Each franchise will be allowed to directly sign one marquee player, provided the player has not featured in either of the previous two PSL seasons.

The PCB also announced that a cricket workshop for PSL stakeholders would be held next week to discuss preparations and related matters ahead of the upcoming edition.

The National T20 Cup, featuring Gold and Silver categories, will also be organised before the HBL PSL, providing domestic players with an opportunity to compete ahead of Pakistan’s premier T20 league.

Addressing the meeting, Naqvi described the HBL PSL as the biggest stage for cricket in Pakistan and said the board would build on the success of the previous edition.

“The 11th season concluded in front of record crowds, and we will carry that momentum forward,” Naqvi said.

He added that the PCB intended to expand the league’s reach by taking matches to more cities in the country.

“We will take the PSL to more cities this time,” the PCB chairman said.

The move to stage the tournament in five to six cities is expected to broaden the league’s reach among fans across Pakistan, although the PCB has not yet announced the final list of host cities.

Meanwhile, PSL CEO Salman Naseer said the race to assemble the strongest squads for the 12th edition had begun 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.

The direct-signing arrangement will allow each franchise to secure one marquee player before the auction, subject to the eligibility requirement concerning participation in the previous two seasons. The remaining squad-building process will proceed towards the player auction scheduled for January 23.

With the tournament dates and initial recruitment framework announced, franchises are expected to begin planning their squad strategies as the PCB prepares for an expanded edition of the league.

The PSL has become a major fixture in Pakistan’s cricket calendar, attracting large crowds and international players. The PCB’s plan to stage the next edition across more cities signals an effort to extend the tournament’s reach beyond its traditional venues.