The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is exploring the launch of a six-a-side competition during its off-season, potentially creating an additional revenue stream while extending the league’s presence beyond its established host cities.
The proposed tournament, tentatively named HBL PSL Sixes, would draw inspiration from the Hong Kong Sixes format. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to make a final decision on whether the competition will proceed.
PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer outlined the proposal during an official PSL podcast released ahead of the league’s governing council meeting. “Nothing is finalised but there are some exciting plans, and one of them is a sixes tournament, called the HBL PSL Sixes, which will be in the off-season.”
Commercial opportunities beyond the main PSL season
The initiative forms part of the PCB‘s efforts to maintain the PSL’s commercial presence throughout the year rather than concentrating its activities around the main tournament.
Cricinfo previously reported that the PCB had raised the possibility of an additional mid-year competition at the September PSL governing council meeting. The proposal involved staging another event within the existing rights agreement, potentially providing franchises and the league’s media rights partner with an additional source of income.
A six-a-side format could offer a relatively compact competition, requiring fewer players and less logistical support than the full PSL. Its shorter duration could also make it easier to organise outside the league’s regular season.
Naseer indicated that the PCB would continue assessing the idea before committing to a launch. “We will look into the prospect of launching this tournament, and it will be very exciting, entertaining and engaging for the fans when it becomes a recurring feature.”
Taking the PSL into smaller Pakistani cities
The proposed competition could also provide an opportunity to stage PSL-branded cricket in locations that have not hosted matches in the main tournament.
Since moving entirely to Pakistan in 2020, the PSL has operated across four established venues: Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. The league began in the United Arab Emirates in 2016 before gradually transferring matches to Pakistan.
The smaller scale of a six-a-side event could make additional venues viable. Naseer addressed that possibility during the podcast, saying, “And maybe even going to the smaller stadiums and smaller cities, where we have not been able to take PSL and we know the fans are eager to watch cricket. So a smaller event might be doable, which is what we are exploring.”
Scheduling remains a key challenge
Finding a suitable window for the proposed competition remains an important consideration, particularly given the availability of overseas players and their commitments to other domestic and international tournaments.
The scheduling question comes as the PCB prepares for another PSL season that will overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL). The board has confirmed that the 2027 PSL will clash with the IPL for the third consecutive year.
The PSL governing council is expected to finalise the main tournament’s schedule, along with the dates and venue for its player auction. The proposed HBL PSL Sixes remains under consideration, with no launch date or final tournament arrangements announced.
