The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected a proposal to reduce Pakistani players’ salaries in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), maintaining its position on player compensation ahead of PSL 12 despite concerns raised by a franchise owner over rising costs, according to a report by Saleem Khaliq of The Express Tribune.
The decision emerged from a virtual PSL Governing Council meeting held on Thursday, October 22, involving PCB officials and franchise owners. Financial obligations, player recruitment deadlines and preparations for the league’s 12th season were also discussed.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi declined to approve the proposed salary reduction after a franchise owner questioned the level of payments being made to players.
The decision comes as the PSL prepares for another season under its player auction system, with an expanded salary budget and a series of upcoming deadlines for franchises.
PSL player salary structure remains in focus
The PCB has established a base player salary purse of US$1.6 million per franchise, with teams permitted to increase that amount to US$1.8 million to recruit an eligible overseas player who did not participate in the previous season.
Under the league’s player payment structure, the highest category carries a salary of up to US$150,000, followed by US$80,000, US$40,000 and US$21,500 across the next three tiers.
The salary proposal raised during the meeting concerned the level of remuneration for Pakistani players. The PCB’s rejection means the suggested reduction has not been approved, although the reporting does not establish that a formal change to the overall salary purse was under consideration.
PCB sets deadline for outstanding franchise payments
Financial compliance was another issue addressed during the meeting, with the PCB instructing stakeholders who have unpaid obligations to settle their outstanding amounts by October 31.
The discussion included representatives of companies that had yet to clear their dues.
An official from one of the defaulting companies assured the PCB that arrangements would be made to meet its financial commitments, including providing security against personal property.
“We are not going to run away. I will arrange a bank guarantee against my land and submit it to the PCB,” the official reportedly said during the meeting.
A representative of another company with outstanding payments indicated that the matter would need to be addressed by its owner, stating: “I have no information regarding this matter; only the company’s owner can provide details”
PSL 12 auction and retention deadlines take shape
The PSL 12 player auction is expected to be held on January 23, 2027, while the PCB has set January 13 as the deadline for franchises to complete their player retentions.
Both dates were discussed during the meeting, with franchise owners offering alternative suggestions for the recruitment process.
One owner proposed staging the auction in China, while another suggested bringing the retention process forward to December. A separate franchise owner indicated that a position would be communicated after discussions with the team’s cricket operations staff.
In an official statement issued on Friday, October 23, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi outlined the planning framework for the upcoming season: “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.”
PSL plans expansion to more venues for Season 12
PSL 12 is scheduled to begin on March 18 and conclude on May 2, with the final planned for Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The tournament is expected to feature 44 matches over 46 days, with fixtures spread across five or six venues in Pakistan.
Naqvi highlighted the league’s ambitions for the upcoming season in the PCB’s statement: “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.”
The tournament calendar will also need to accommodate the South Asian Games, scheduled for April 4–11 in Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar.
PSL matches will not be staged in those three cities during that period, with the complete fixture schedule expected to be finalised at the cricket committee’s next meeting.
PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer discussed the competition’s geographical expansion and the recruitment decisions ahead for franchises: “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. 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. We look forward to a season that takes this league further than it has ever gone.”
PCB encourages franchises to invest in emerging talent
Alongside the financial and administrative discussions, the PCB presented franchise representatives with information about promising players identified through school cricket.
The board encouraged franchises to assess these young cricketers, identify promising talent and explore opportunities to develop them within their teams, an initiative that received a positive response from franchise owners.
