Mohsin Naqvi Claims PSL Will Beat IPL, Become 'World's Number 1 League' Soon

Last Updated:April 05, 2026, 16:22 IST

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi says the PSL will soon become the 'world's number one league'.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, believes the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is on track to become the ‘world’s number one’ cricket league, after a record franchise auction for its 11th season.

At the Board of Governors meeting in Lahore, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi, officials cited strong investor demand as evidence of the league’s rapid growth. Naqvi said the PSL is now one of the best places to invest in cricket and predicted it will soon reach the top globally.

“The PSL has now become the best market for investment," Naqvi said after a board meeting at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. “The time is not far when the PSL will become the world’s number one league."

The PCB also approved its audited financial statements for the 2024–25 year, claiming stability off the field alongside the league’s expansion.

A major highlight was the franchise auction, where teams were sold for record prices. The PSL has expanded from six to eight teams, with new sides from Sialkot and Hyderabad joining the competition.

The Sialkot franchise was bought by OZ Developers for PKR 1.85 billion (INR 61.4 crore) and named Sialkot Stallionz. The Hyderabad team was acquired by FKS Group for PKR 1.75 billion (INR 58.1 crore) and branded Hyderabad Kingsmen.

Changes continued after the auction. Following the exit of Ali Tareen from Multan Sultans, the PCB reopened bidding. Walee Technologies won with a PKR 2.45 billion bid (INR 81.3 crore) and renamed the team Rawalpindiz.

Later, CD Ventures acquired a majority stake in the Sialkot franchise and rebranded it as Multan Sultans. The team’s valuation has since risen to around PKR 2 billion annually (INR 66.4 crore).

PSL losing in IPL clash this year

While the PSL has deliberately decided to clash its timings with the IPL to pick players who don’t get time or the importance in the latter, it has become a losing battle this time. Several players have left the PSL to take more lucrative contracts in the IPL, while the league is suffering from internal issues like the effects of the petroleum crisis, and the war-like situation on the border with Afghanistan.

News cricket Mohsin Naqvi Claims PSL Will Beat IPL, Become 'World's Number 1 League' Soon

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