Pakistan Super League returns - what is it and how does it work?
The tournament has expanded to eight teams for 2026 - with Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz the two new sides. Multan Sultans initially left the tournament but another new franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, have been taken over and rebranded as Multan Sultans. The eight teams are: Hyderabad Kingsmen, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindiz.
[Getty Images] The Pakistan Super League (PSL) returns on Thursday, 26 March for its 11th and biggest edition. The tournament has expanded to eight teams for 2026 - with Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz the two new sides. Multan Sultans initially left the tournament but another new franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, have been taken over and rebranded as Multan Sultans.
The eight teams are: Hyderabad Kingsmen, Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Rawalpindiz. Lahore are the defending champions after a six-wicket win over Quetta in last year's final. The eight teams form one table and each side plays the other seven twice.
The group stage runs until 26 April before the qualifier (first v second in the group stage) on 28 April for a place in the final. The eliminator follows on 29 April, with the winner of that into the second eliminator against the loser of the qualifier on 1 May. The winner of that second eliminator progresses to the final on 3 May.
The tournament will start behind closed doors as a result of the conflict in the Gulf, with two venues - National Bank Stadium, Karachi and Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore - being used. PSL fixtures [BBC]