PSL Expands with Hyderabad Franchise: Bid Matches Pant-Iyer IPL Earnings!
Pakistan Super League (PSL) just grew bigger, welcoming two fresh T20 teams in a thrilling Thursday auction. This bumps the league from six to eight franchises ahead of the March 26 kickoff.
A Pakistani real estate group, OZ Developers, snapped up the Sialkot team for Rs 1.85 billion (about $6.55 million or INR 58.38 crore). Meanwhile, US-based FKS Group—a powerhouse in aviation and healthcare—clinched the Hyderabad PSL franchise for Rs 1.75 billion ($6.2 million or INR 55.57 crore). Together, the new PSL teams cost $12.75 million (INR 114 crore).
Mind-Blowing Comparison: IPL Stars’ Salaries Dwarf PSL Bids
Here’s the jaw-dropper—the Hyderabad team’s price tag is eerily close to the IPL 2026 combined pay of Indian cricket sensations Shreyas Iyer (Rs 26.75 crore) and Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 crore), totaling Rs 53.75 crore.
Even wilder? The duo’s new PSL teams’ full price undercuts the Rs 118 crore earned by IPL 2026’s top nine auction buys.
Multan Sultans’ Twist Amid Owner Drama
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will manage Multan Sultans this season before auctioning it post-April finale. Ex-owner Ali Tareen, locked in past disputes with PSL bosses, skipped bidding on the new teams despite eligibility.
Pre-auction, Tareen posted on X: “If I come back to PSL, it has to be for the same reason. South Punjab is where my heart is… When Multan goes up for sale, we’ll be ready.” From 10 approved bidders, only these two sealed the deals.
PSL’s bold expansion signals rising T20 cricket hype—will it challenge IPL dominance?
