PSL 2024 Trophy. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Pakistan’s premier domestic T20 league, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), will move to an eight-franchise structure after its tenth season in 2025, with the change being implemented from the 11th season onwards in 2026. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced this new development through an official press release, designating the upcoming 2025 season (tenth edition) as the “last six-team event.”
The tournament kicked off in 2016 with five teams participating in its first two seasons (2016 and 2017) – Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Lahore Qalandars. Following ten seasons, the PSL will see an increase in teams, with Multan Sultans being the newest addition from PSL 2018 onwards.
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The procedure for deciding the cities the new teams will represent has not set in motion yet. As for the 2018 edition of the PSL, the PCB had shortlisted five names for the sixth team.
PCB exploring possibility of hosting playoffs and final of PSL 2025 in the UK
To accommodate the Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan which coincides with the usual PSL timeframe, the PCB plans to move the PSL to April and May permanently, tentatively from April 7 to May 20. This overlap with the IPL is poised to impact player availability and force the PSL to compete with the IPL for broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, and media coverage. In the wake of this, ESPNcricinfo reveals that the PCB is examining the possibility of staging the PSL 2025 playoffs and final in the UK if the April/May window is approved.
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Lahore is very hot in mid-May. Thus, the move to the UK, according to the PCB will not only alleviate weather concerns, but also broaden the league’s global exposure by catering to a diverse target audience. The UK is also believed to be a more economically viable option than the UAE.