LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has instructed Pakistan Super League (PSL) owners to increase the salary cap of players as the marquee league enters a new era with the addition of two new teams, sources told Geo Super on Saturday.

According to insiders, the PCB chief expressed his hope for an increase in players’ compensation, citing the rise in the market value of teams after the valuation, while advising franchise owners to opt for an auction model.

“Conduct the auction of players in the PSL 11 draft, pick the players of your choice and they will benefit,” Naqvi told the franchise during the PSL governing body meeting.

He further insisted that the marquee league’s two new teams should be given equal opportunity to pick players of their choice, while sources suggested that the upcoming executive committee meeting could see a discussion on player retention by the existing sides.

The development came the next day when the PSL Executive Committee met at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here, chaired by PCB president Naqvi and attended by representatives of the eight PSL franchises along with PSL and Cricket Board officials.

The session began with the PCB Chairman and Council Members congratulating and welcoming the new team owners of Sialkot and Hyderabad to the PSL family.

During the high-level meeting, detailed consultations were held on several important issues, including the schedule for PSL 11, player retention, a full auction system or a hybrid model combining auction and draft – referred to as ‘Traction’ – as well as the option to allow direct player signings.

It was confirmed during the meeting that PSL 11 will begin on Thursday, March 26, in what officials described as a new era for the league, with fans, players and stakeholders looking forward to the upcoming season.

The meeting concluded with the formation of an executive committee that will reconvene on Saturday to further study the agenda items.

The upcoming edition marks a significant milestone for the marquee league as it expands from six to eight teams with the addition of new franchises from Sialkot and Hyderabad.

In the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Center on Thursday, FKS Group and OZ Developers bagged the rights of the new owners for Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion respectively.

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