Islamabad: The HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) is poised for expansion as the auction for two new teams is scheduled to take place on Thursday at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. The event will mark the league's growth from six to eight teams for its 11th season, which will run from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

The auction ceremony will commence at 4:15 p.m. and will be broadcast live on various platforms, including the HBL PSL and PCB official YouTube Channels, Tapmad, Tamasha, Myco, and PCB Live in the UK region. After the bidding, a performance by renowned singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is planned.

Before the auction begins, the Pakistan Shaheens team and the Hong Kong Super Sixes squad will be honored for their recent achievements. The Pakistan Shaheens won the Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 in Doha, while the Hong Kong Super Sixes team celebrated a successful campaign.

Ten technically qualified bidders will vie for the two new team spots. The potential franchise locations include Faisalabad, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi, and Sialkot.

The bidders represent a range of sectors, including agrobusiness, telecommunications, real estate, and technology, with companies from both Pakistan and abroad participating. Highlighted bidders include Aim Next Inc, Deharki Sugar Mills, FKS, Inverex, i2c, Jazz, OZ Developers, Prism Developers, VGO TEL, and Walee Technologies.

The introduction of these teams will add to the prestigious lineup of existing franchises, including Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings, and Multan Sultans, each with their own championship history.

This auction follows the success of two recent HBL PSL roadshows in London and New York, which took place in December 2025 and generated significant interest. Initially, 12 parties submitted bids, but after a technical evaluation, 10 bidders were deemed eligible to participate in the auction.