PSL ends draft system, switches to auction model from 2026
Islamabad, Jan 19
Pakistan Super League will transition to a Player Auction Model, replacing the traditional Player Draft system, from the 11th season, Pakistan Cricket Board said on Monday.
The Pakistan Super League has announced a series of landmark developments ahead of its 11th edition, reinforcing the League's continued growth, competitiveness, and commitment to innovation. This strategic shift is aimed at enhancing competitive balance, increasing transparency, and providing players' greater earning opportunities, PCB said in a statement.
According to the new rules, each franchise may retain a maximum of four players, limited to one player per category. Previously, every franchise was allowed to retain eight players from their squad including a mentor, a brand ambassador and a Right to Match Option (RTN) to retain a ninth player in the Player Draft.
The rules pertaining to mentors, brand ambassadors and RTM have been removed for PSL 11. Newly inducted teams will be allowed to select and retain four players from the available player pool before the Player Auction.
Each franchise will also be allowed one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, enabling teams to strategically strengthen their squads with fresh international talent.
Moreover, the player salary purse has been increased to USD 1.6 million per franchise. "These progressive measures reflect the League's strategic trajectory and evolution, while remaining firmly rooted in its mission to promote cricketing excellence, fan engagement, and attaining unprecedented heights," PCB said.
It added that additional details regarding the player auction process, schedule, and operational guidelines would be shared in due course.
PSL 11 will commence on March 26 and Faisalabad has been added as an additional venue for hosting the league's matches.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a cricket fan, I love the auction format! It's so much more engaging to watch than a draft. Teams have to be really strategic now with only 4 retentions. Will be interesting to see which Pakistani stars become the most expensive buys. Hope this brings more competitiveness to the league.
Copying the IPL model, I see. Well, if it works, why not? The key will be transparency in the process. Removing the mentor and brand ambassador slots makes sense – keeps the focus on cricket. Hope the players, especially the domestic ones, get a fair shake and better pay.
While the auction is exciting, I have a respectful criticism. The draft system had a certain charm and allowed for more squad continuity. With only 4 retentions, team identities might get diluted every few years. Fans connect with core players. Hope they find the right balance.
Good to see Faisalabad getting matches! Developing cricket infrastructure across more cities is crucial. The direct signing of a new foreign player is a clever rule – lets teams bring in someone unexpected. Overall, these seem like positive, forward-thinking changes for PSL.
The increased salary cap is the biggest news here. Pakistani players deserve to earn more, especially with the talent they have. An auction will truly test a player's market value. Let's see if this helps PSL close the financial gap with other major leagues. Best of luck to them!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.