Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his intention to move Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches to new venues. The chairman said the board is also working towards starting international cricket at the Muzaffarabad stadium in PoK, with plans to organize PSL games at the venue.
Naqvi confirmed the dates for the 11th season of the Pakistan Super League during a road show in New York. He announced that the PSL will be played from March 26 to May 3, 2026. The timeline forms a direct overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, which is scheduled to take place from March 15 to May 31.
PSL set to expand with two new franchises; Team auction scheduled for January 8
The schedule of the Pakistan Super League was changed last season as Pakistan hosted the 2025 Champions Trophy between February and March. Notably, the upcoming edition of the league is expected to be the longest ever. This will last for 39 days.
The PSL is also set to expand next season. Two new franchises will be added, taking the total number of teams to eight. Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that the auction for the two new teams will take place on January 8.
Among the current teams, Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars remain the most successful teams in PSL history with three titles each. Lahore Qalandars are also the defending champions.
Mohsin Naqvi wants to host PSL 11 matches in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
The PCB confirmed plans to host Pakistan Super League matches at the Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium during a special roadshow at Lord’s in London. Mohsin Naqvi said that the board wants to organize 11 matches of PSL in Muzaffarabad, PoK.
He said that the PCB is also planning to bring international cricket to the venue in the future. India may have objections to the move to host major matches in the region.
“We are trying to host 11 PSL matches in Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir (actually known as PoK). International matches will also be held there.” Naqvi was quoted as saying by Pakistani media.
India has rightly been claiming that Pakistan occupied Kashmir is an integral part of its territory. The region, including PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, is under the administration of Pakistan, while India maintains the Line of Control with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control with China.
IPL-PSL schedule clash to continue as leagues overlap again in 2026
The IPL and PSL will run at the same time for the second consecutive year, continuing the schedule clash that first happened in 2025 when the PSL was shifted to the April-May window. Now that full overlap has been confirmed for 2026, the rivalry between the two leagues is set to intensify.
This overlap creates problems for the PSL when it comes to signing foreign players, as most of the international stars with IPL deals choose the Indian league. As a result, the PSL faces stiff competition in attracting big names throughout the season.
However, the PSL has taken a more aggressive approach to raising its global profile, including hosting a road show in New York. Some high-profile players like Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali opted for the PSL instead of entering the IPL 2026 auction.
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