PCB sets PSL 12 for March 18 to May 2 with all eight teams

The 12th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League will be played from March 18 to May 2 next year, with all eight franchises returning, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday. That gives the tournament a window of about six and a half weeks.

The window was settled after the PSL Governing Council met in London on September 1, where owners and representatives of all eight franchises were consulted, according to the PCB. The board said details of the schedule, venues and ticketing would follow later.

What happens next

With the dates fixed, the PCB said a series of squad-building milestones would follow, including:

• direct signings
• player retentions
• a trade window
• the player auction

Players retained or bought at this year’s auction were signed on two-year contracts covering the 11th and 12th editions, the PCB has said earlier, and franchises can retain up to seven players for the coming season.

A second eight-team season

PSL 12 will keep the expanded format introduced this year, when the league grew to eight teams with the arrival of Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz. Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium is also being handed back to the PCB for 20 years. The 2026 edition also replaced the draft with a player auction for the first time. At the inaugural auction in February, 103 players were sold to the eight franchises.

The 2026 season ended with Peshawar Zalmi winning their second PSL title. They beat the debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on May 3, ending a nine-year wait for the trophy, The Express Tribune noted. Babar Azam led Peshawar Zalmi in the final, while Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne captained Hyderabad Kingsmen. The tournament drew a record crowd for the final, it added.

The eight franchises are:

• Islamabad United
• Karachi Kings
• Lahore Qalandars
• Multan Sultans
• Peshawar Zalmi
• Quetta Gladiators
• Hyderabad Kingsmen
• Rawalpindiz

What the PCB said

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the previous edition had set a high bar. “HBL PSL 11 showed the world what this league is capable of: thrilling moments that had the whole nation transfixed, record crowds, record broadcasts,” he said in a press release. “HBL PSL 12 will raise the bar further.”

He added that the board was committed to delivering another outstanding season and looked forward to seeing all eight sides compete for the title again.

PSL chief executive Salman Naseer said Thursday’s announcement marked the start of preparations. “Last season changed what people expect from this league and we intend to meet every one of those expectations in 2027,” he said. “Direct signings, retentions, the trade window and the auction will each bring their own excitement in the months ahead.”

Why it matters

The announcement starts the clock on the league’s second eight-team season. The PCB has not yet named venues, so the full shape of the tournament, including which cities host matches, will become clear only when the schedule is released.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn, Geo News and The Express Tribune.