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PCB announce PSL 2026 auction date [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x]
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the dates for the historic player auction of the upcoming PSL 2026 season. The board confirmed the same following an extensive workshop held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore this weekend.
The session was attended by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, PSL CEO Salman Naseer as well as by the officials of all eight PSL franchises, including the two new entries. Several members of Pakistan’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad also attended the meeting alongside other PCB officials, as confirmed by GeoSuper.
PSL 2026 player auction to take place amid T20 World Cup 2026
As announced by the PCB on Sunday, January 25; the player auction of the upcoming PSL 2026 season will take place on Wednesday, February 11 next month. Notably, the date will also coincide with the opening week of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
The date was confirmed by the PCB after organising a workshop at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, which also happens to be the venue of Pakistan’s upcoming three-match home T20I series against Australia.
Apart from several PCB, PSL and franchise officials; the workshop was attended by star Pakistan cricketers like senior batters Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman; and fast bowling mavericks Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali.
Nonetheless, the PSL 2026 auction marks a historic one in the context of the tournament. It is worth noting that the PSL will be adopting an auction system for the first time through the upcoming edition, after having used the draft system in the earlier seasons.
PCB reveal base price ahead of PSL 2026 auction
As per the PCB and PSL regulations, the players to be retained or picked at the PSL 2026 auction will be signing a two-year contract with their respective franchises.
The PCB has also unveiled the base prices for players ahead of the auction. The base prices have been set at PKR 4.2 crore (INR 1.35 crore), PKR 2.2 crore (INR 71 lakh), PKR 1.1 crore (INR 36 lakh) and PKR 60 lakh (INR 19.5 lakh).
Additionally, all franchises will be allowed to form a squad of 16 to 20 players, with a minimum of two uncapped Under-23 players to be reserved for each line-up. Franchises must also field either three or four oversees players in their playing XI at any given time.
PSL 2026 dates unveiled by PCB chairman
A few weeks ago, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also unveiled the dates of the PSL 2026 season. Going head-first against BCCI’s cash-rich IPL tournament for the second time in a row, the PSL 2026 season will run from March 26 till May 3.
Set to be launched roughly a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the PSL 2026 will run concurrently with the rebel IPL 2026 in India.
The Lahore Qalandars franchise will start out as defending champions, having won the previous edition in 2025 last year. The PSL 2026 season will also feature the introduction of two new franchises in the form of Kingsmen Hyderabad and Sialkot Stallionz, thus making it an eight-team event as opposed to the six-team seasons up until 2025.
