PSL Officials Release Auction Rules for Two New Team Franchises

Published On: January 22, 2026

Pakistan Super League (PSL) officials have officially outlined the rules and procedures governing the auction of two new team franchises, providing clarity on bidding increments, timeouts, and franchise selection rights.

According to the auction framework, all bids must be quoted in Pakistani rupees, with a minimum bid increment of Rs 10 million over the base price announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Any increase below this threshold will not be accepted, although bidders are free to raise their offers without any upper limit.

Strategic Timeouts and Bidding Closure

Each bidder will be allowed one strategic timeout of up to five minutes in every auction round. During this period, bidders may consult their internal representatives but are strictly prohibited from communicating with other bidders.

A bidding round will be declared closed once no participant exceeds the highest bid after the auctioneer’s final call. At that point, the highest valid bid above the base price will be provisionally declared the winning bid.

City Selection Rights Explained

Under the auction structure:

The Round One winner will secure the first right to choose a city name from the available pool for Team Franchise No. 7
The Round One winner will not participate in Round Two
The Round Two winner will then receive the second right of selection from the remaining five city names for Team Franchise No. 8

Tie-Bid Procedure Clarified

PSL officials have also clarified the procedure in case of a tie bid, which occurs when two or more bidders submit the same highest valid bid simultaneously, with no higher offer received within the stipulated time.

In such cases, the auctioneer—acting on the instructions of the PCB Auction Committee—will reopen bidding exclusively among the tied bidders. This rebidding may continue for one or more additional rounds, based on conditions set by the auction committee.

Ensuring Transparency in PSL Expansion

Officials stated that these rules aim to ensure a transparent, competitive, and structured auction process as the PSL moves forward with its expansion plans and the addition of new franchises.