- PSL Player Auction confirmed for February 11 in Lahore
- Base prices and bidding increments finalised in Pakistani rupees
- Two-year player contracts and long-term retention model introduced
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday (25) conducted a detailed workshop on the upcoming HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Player Auction at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, marking a key step in the league’s transition into a new era. The session was presided over by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and HBL PSL CEO Salman Naseer, and brought together franchise owners, PSL officials, national players and senior PCB representatives.
The workshop was attended by representatives of all eight franchises, members of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, capped players and HBL PSL officials. Among the notable attendees were Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, the two leading run-scorers in PSL history, along with Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi, the league’s top wicket-takers.
During the session, the HBL PSL management delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the player retention framework and auction mechanics, with active consultation from franchises and players alike. Following consensus among stakeholders, it was officially confirmed that the HBL PSL Player Auction will take place on Wednesday, February 11.
The PCB also revealed the player base prices, announcing that both auction prices and minimum incremental bids will be conducted in Pakistani rupees. The four base price brackets were set at PKR 4.2 crore, PKR 2.2 crore, PKR 1.1 crore and PKR 60 lakh. Minimum incremental bids were finalised at PKR 250,000 (under PKR 1.1 crore), PKR 500,000 (under PKR 2.2 crore), PKR 1,000,000 (under PKR 4.2 crore) and PKR 1,500,000 (above PKR 4.2 crore), with franchises free to bid higher if desired.
Squad regulations were also confirmed, with franchises required to select between 16 and 20 players, including five to seven foreign players depending on squad size. Teams must field a minimum of three and a maximum of four overseas players in their playing XI, while also mandating at least two uncapped Under-23 players in the squad and one in the playing XI.
In a major structural shift, players retained or selected in the HBL PSL 11 auction will be signed on two-year contracts. Franchises will be allowed to retain up to seven players ahead of PSL 12, while a grand auction after PSL 12 will permit a maximum of five retentions, with released players returning to the auction pool.
Franchises will also be entitled to directly sign one foreign player for PSL 11 who did not feature in PSL 10. The standard team purse of PKR 45 crore can be extended to PKR 50.5 crore to accommodate such signings, with the PCB contributing towards the acquisition of elite overseas talent.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi described the workshop as a milestone moment for the league, stating that the auction model would create greater transparency, competitiveness and financial opportunity for players. PSL CEO Salman Naseer echoed those sentiments, calling the auction system a modern, market-driven approach that aligns with global standards and enhances fan engagement.
With the framework now finalised, the HBL PSL Player Auction promises to usher in a more competitive, transparent and financially rewarding chapter in the league’s history, as franchises prepare to shape their squads for the much-anticipated PSL 11 season.
