Islamabad, January 9, 2026. In a landmark moment for Pakistan’s premier T20 competition, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) expanded from six to eight teams after a high-profile auction in Islamabad on January 8, 2026. The additions of Hyderabad and Sialkot as the seventh and eighth franchises were confirmed in competitive bidding at the Jinnah Convention Centre, marking one of the most significant commercial milestones in the league’s history. Meanwhile on the sidelines of the PSL Teams Auction 2026, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsen Gillani held productive talks with Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, underscoring growing cross-sport engagement at the national level.
Historic Expansion Auction in Islamabad
The highly anticipated PSL franchise auction officially transformed the structure of the league’s 11th edition, set to take place from March 26 to May 3, 2026. Held under heightened domestic and international interest, the auction saw 10 technically qualified bidders competing for rights to two new PSL teams. The event was streamed live across multiple digital platforms and broadcast networks, introducing a new level of transparency and fan engagement to the process.
In the first round of bidding, the FKS Group secured ownership of the Hyderabad franchise with a winning bid of Rs1.75 billion, choosing one of the country’s historic cricket hubs as the team’s home base. In the second round, OZ Developers clinched the Sialkot franchise for Rs1.85 billion, the highest price paid for a PSL team to date. The combined auction value of Rs3.6 billion for both franchises is expected to generate an estimated Rs36 billion in revenue for the Pakistan Cricket Board over the next decade.
Broader Sporting Dialogues: PFF Meets Mohsin Naqvi
Parallel to the PSL auction, PFF President Mohsen Gillani engaged with Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both Interior Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, to discuss avenues of mutual support and strategic development for football in Pakistan. The meeting, held on the margins of the PSL event, highlighted the potential for broader sporting collaboration as Pakistan seeks to elevate its domestic leagues and international competitiveness.
While details of their discussions are still emerging, the interaction signifies a rare intersection between leadership in cricket and football, and could signal future support frameworks for football administration in Pakistan.
The expansion of the PSL to eight teams represents a major step forward in domestic sports commercialization, offering increased opportunities for talent exposure and regional representation. For football, the high-level engagement between PFF and national sports leadership could pave the way for enhanced visibility and infrastructure investment.
About the author: Mohsin Rasheed is the founder & chief editor of Footballer.pk, Pakistan’s leading football media platform. He oversees editorial content and regularly contributes match reports, player profiles, and tactical features. You can reach him at [email protected]. For official queries please write us at [email protected]