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Key Takeaways
- 1📊 10 teams with new Hyderabad, Sialkot franchises
- 2🏆 Shift from drafts after 10 seasons
- 3💡 'Drauction' to balance retentions & bidding
- 4🔮 Expect IPL-style frenzy for 2026 season
"The addition of the two new franchises has also complicated the matter of player retentions"
Pakistan Super League is set to revolutionize player pickings with a 'drauction' – blending draft and auction – for the 2026 season. The addition of new franchises from Hyderabad and Sialkot has sparked this bold rethink, complicating retentions after a decade of pure drafts.
New Franchises Fuel Change
The PSL governing council hashed it out but deferred the call, aiming to finalize over the weekend. This hybrid model could level the playing field, letting big spenders chase stars while retaining franchise loyalty. Imagine Babar Azam or Shaheen Afridi going under the hammer – the frenzy would rival IPL mega-auctions!
With 10 teams now, the stakes skyrocket. Retaining core players becomes trickier, promising fresh rivalries and underdog rises. Pakistani fans, already mad about PSL glamour, will lap up the drama. Will it boost quality or create chaos? The PCB's innovation keeps the T20 fire alive amid global league wars.
As PSL 2026 looms, expect bidding wars that redefine the HBL Pakistan Super League.
