PSL Expansion Draws Attention as New Franchise Prices Invite IPL Salary Comparisons

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The Pakistan Super League marked a major expansion on Thursday with the induction of two new Twenty20 franchises, taking the league from six to eight teams. A real estate consortium and a US-based aviation and healthcare group secured the new slots during an auction held by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The move signals renewed commercial interest in the PSL ahead of the upcoming season, starting March 26.

Hyderabad and Sialkot Win Franchise Bids


OZ Developers won the rights to the Sialkot franchise with a bid of Rs 1.85 billion, around $6.55 million, while US-based FKS Group secured the Hyderabad team for Rs 1.75 billion, or roughly $6.2 million. Both franchises will debut in the next PSL season, adding fresh regional representation and expanding the league’s footprint within Pakistan.

IPL Salary Comparison Draws Attention


The Hyderabad franchise price quickly drew comparisons with Indian Premier League salaries. The Rs. 55.57 crore bid is close to the combined IPL earnings of Shreyas Iyer at Rs. 26.75 crore and Rishabh Pant at Rs. 27 crore. Notably, the combined cost of both new PSL teams is still lower than the total Rs. 118 crore earned by the top nine players in the IPL 2026 auction.

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PCB to Run Multan Sultans Temporarily


Meanwhile, Multan Sultans will be operated by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the upcoming season before being offered for sale later. 

Former owner Ali Tareen, who opted out of the bidding, shared his thoughts on X, stating, “South Punjab is where my heart is. It is home. When the Multan team is being sold, we’ll be ready.” He cited unresolved differences with league management.

PSL Growth Highlights Market Contrast


The PSL expansion highlights steady growth but also underscores the stark financial contrast with the IPL. While franchise values are rising in Pakistan, player salaries and commercial scale remain far lower than India’s league. 

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The introduction of Hyderabad and Sialkot has the potential of increasing the competition and the interest of the region, yet continuous investment and stability will be of great importance in bridging the gap in the T20 global market.