LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday released the ninth qualifying bid for the much-anticipated bid for two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams ahead of its landmark 11th edition.
The cricket board made the announcement through its official social media handles, sharing a post that read: “One more step to auction day. Aim Next announced as ninth qualifying bid in HBL PSL teams auction.”
Earlier, the PCB announced eight more bidders, with one remaining for the auction, fueling excitement around the historic event.
The auction for non-qualifiers is scheduled to be held on Thursday at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad, with the matches scheduled from March 26 to May 3.
PSL expands from six to eight teams as PCB completes technical evaluations of proposals submitted by interested parties.
Among the confirmed bidders is the Tareen Group, led by businessman Ali Khan Tareen, who previously owned Multan Sultans.
Tareen took over the franchise in 2018 and turned it into one of the PSL’s most consistent performers, winning the title in 2021 and reaching multiple finals.
However, relations between Tareen and PCB soured due to renewal terms and administrative issues.
He was the only owner not to grant a 10-year extension, and the controversy escalated after the PCB issued a legal notice citing contract violations.
Tareen announced his departure in late 2025, which took effect at the end of the year, making him eligible to bid for one of the new franchises.
Notably, successful bidders will have the opportunity to select a home city from the PCB-approved list which includes Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit.
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