The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the player auction for Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 12 will take place on January 23, 2027, while opening the direct signing window for all eight franchises.
The announcement was made through the PSL’s official social media platforms, marking the beginning of squad-building preparations for the upcoming edition of Pakistan’s premier T20 competition.
According to the PCB, all eight franchises have until November 23 to complete their direct signings ahead of the player auction.
Under the announced regulations, each franchise can directly recruit one marquee player, provided the cricketer did not participate in either PSL 10 or PSL 11.
The provision offers franchises an opportunity to strengthen their squads with high-profile players who have not featured in the league during the previous two seasons.
Meanwhile, the PCB has scheduled a franchise workshop for next week to discuss and finalise several important aspects of the upcoming season. The meeting will address player retention deadlines, the pre-auction trading window, auction regulations and playing conditions.
Further announcements regarding these arrangements are expected in the coming weeks.
Notably, PSL 12 is scheduled to begin on March 18, 2027, with the final set to take place on May 2. The tournament will feature 44 matches across 46 days, with fixtures expected to be staged at five to six venues across Pakistan as part of the PCB’s plans to expand the league’s geographical reach.
In another significant development, the cricket board has aligned its domestic cricket calendar with the PSL’s pre-season preparations to create more opportunities for emerging players.
The National T20 Gold and National T20 Silver tournaments will serve as talent-identification competitions ahead of the January auction.
The initiative is aimed at providing promising domestic cricketers with an opportunity to impress PSL franchises and potentially progress towards national selection.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expressed optimism about the upcoming edition, describing it as the league’s most ambitious season.
“PSL is Pakistan cricket’s biggest stage, and Season 12 will be its most ambitious yet. PSL 11 ended before a record crowd, and we are building on that momentum by taking the league to more cities than ever before,” Naqvi said.
“The roadmap we have finalised and are partially announcing today gives every stakeholder, from franchises and players to commercial partners and broadcasters, the certainty to plan at the highest level. With the foundations now in place, we are looking forward to an exciting season,” he added.
PSL chief executive Salman Naseer also highlighted the importance of taking the tournament to additional cities, allowing more cricket fans to experience the competition.
“For the first time, PSL will go to five to six venues, bringing the league closer to fans across Pakistan and giving more cities the chance to host the best of T20 cricket,” Naseer said.
He further emphasised that the upcoming weeks would be crucial for franchises as they begin shaping their squads through direct signings, player retentions and trades.
“From today, the race to build the best squad for PSL 12 is on. Every direct signing, every trade and every retention decision over the coming weeks will shape the teams that take the field in March,” he stated.
“We look forward to a season that takes this league further than it has ever gone,” Naseer added.