The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set a base price of Rs1.30 billion per year for each of the two new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises, as the league prepares to expand from six to eight teams.
Sources familiar with the matter told Dawn that the pricing comes alongside a near threefold increase in the valuations of existing franchises, although the PCB has not yet issued an official statement.
Unlike the 2016 inaugural season, when franchise prices were quoted in US dollars, all league-related financial dealings will now be in Pakistani rupees.
To attract investors for the two new PSL teams and the Multan Sultans, the PCB recently held a roadshow in London. Six cities, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit, have been shortlisted as potential homes for the new teams, with two cities to be finalized. Despite this international push, the PCB has no current plans for similar domestic investor events.
However, the board announced a New York City roadshow scheduled for Saturday as part of its global outreach strategy to engage international investors ahead of the auction for the two new franchises, set for January 6 next year.
Six Pakistani national team players, including T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Saud Shakeel, are expected to attend the US event to promote the league’s commercial potential and international appeal.
Source: Dawn News
