ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has officially appointed former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram as the brand ambassador for the 11th season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
During a press conference ahead of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Naqvi highlighted the board’s strategic move to strengthen the league’s brand and engagement by bringing in one of Pakistan’s cricketing legends in a key role.
“The best thing about PSL and the PSL brand is that Wasim Akram has been appointed as the brand ambassador. From January 1, he will officially take up this responsibility,” said Naqvi.
“Not only that, he also organizes key aspects of the auction. There will be an international auctioneer and Wasim Akram will also be actively involved,” he added.
The left-arm speedster has been a key figure in the PSL over the years, serving as the president of the Karachi Kings franchise since late 2018.
In this role, he acted as a senior advisor and occasional interim coach, guiding the team to its first PSL title in 2020 following the tragic passing of head coach Dean Jones.
Meanwhile, the cricket board has made significant progress in the planned expansion of the league.
On Saturday, the board announced that its bidding committee has completed the technical evaluation of proposals submitted by interested parties to acquire the franchise of the two new PSL franchises.
A total of 12 proposals were received from bidders across five continents. After a three-day evaluation process, 10 bidders were selected to meet the technical criteria and qualify for the next stage.
“The PCB Bidding Committee has successfully completed the technical evaluation of the proposals submitted for the sale of two new HBL PSL franchise teams,” the board said in an official statement.
The shortlisted bidders will now participate in the auction scheduled for January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad. They will have the option to select their franchisee names from six listed cities namely Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gilgit and Rawalpindi.
The PSL, which started with five teams in 2016 and expanded to six in 2018, is poised for further growth with the addition of two new franchises in its 11th edition next year.