The Pakistan Super League has announced sweeping changes to its administrative and player recruitment structure, with the upcoming 11th edition set to mark a major shift in how teams are built and managed.

Officials confirmed that in the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League, players will now be selected through an auction system instead of the traditional draft. The move aims to create more balanced squads while allowing players greater earning potential.

The auction-based model is expected to increase competitiveness and transparency across franchises.

Mentors, brand ambassadors, RTM rule scrapped

As part of the restructuring, mentors, brand ambassadors and the right-to-match (RTM) rule have been abolished. These changes are intended to simplify team operations and level the playing field among franchises.

Officials said the revised format would ensure greater parity and strategic flexibility during squad building.

Each franchise will be allowed to retain up to four players before the auction, with a maximum of one player per category. This ensures teams cannot overload a single category with elite players.

Additionally, both new teams joining the league will also be given the opportunity to select four players prior to the auction.

Direct signing of international players

Under the new rules, each franchise may directly sign one international player. However, it will be mandatory that any international cricketer eligible for direct signing was not part of the 2025 edition of the tournament.

This provision is designed to attract fresh global talent while maintaining fairness across teams.

Salary cap fixed at $1.6m

The salary cap for each team has been set at $1.6 million, which franchises must use during the auction process. Officials said the cap would help maintain financial discipline while encouraging smart bidding strategies.

The cap applies uniformly to all teams participating in the tournament.

The 11th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League will begin on March 26. While most matches will take place in traditional host cities, officials confirmed that some PSL 11 matches will also be played at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

The inclusion of Faisalabad is seen as a step toward expanding the league’s footprint and engaging cricket fans in more cities.