The Pakistan Super League is gearing up for a big leap forward 10 years after its launch.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced it will add two new franchises to the existing pool of six. A total of eight teams would make the PSL significantly more competitive; in the early years four out of the five teams would qualify for the play-offs.
The board has shortlisted 10 entities that will vie for two new teams in the PSL. The two new franchises will be based in one of the following cities: Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit.
Among those shortlisted include renewable energy company Inverex Solar, telecom company Jazz and Tareen Group, the former owners of Multan Sultans franchise.
The entities that have been shortlisted will participate in a team auction where the highest bidders will win rights for the new teams.
Anticipation is high for a hectic bidding war as the finances of the league have grown considerably.
Late last year, HBL renewed their title sponsorship of the league, pledging $25 million for two years – a five-time increase in value to the first such deal valued at $5m in 2016.
Five of the six existing teams – Islamab
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