2026: Is it going to be the worst edition of PSL?

[Ball Blazer]

This is shaping up to be the most chaotic and least creative edition of the PSL yet, and it all started with the embarrassing Multan Sultans saga — from Ali Tareen publicly tearing a PCB note and sending terrible signals about the league worldwide, to his dramatic split from Multan Sultans, and then the franchise suddenly going into new bids only to be awkwardly replaced by Rawalpindi… and rebranded as “Pindiz”? Seriously?

While the auction had its entertaining moments, what exactly was the strategic vision behind randomly attaching Houston to Hyderabad or slapping Stallionz onto Sialkot? It feels less like expansion and more like a branding experiment gone wrong.

The chaos didn’t stop there — Ali Tareen Lite (sorry, Kamil Khan), hyper-active on social media, abruptly exits claiming the decision was made “long ago,” even though the franchise isn’t even six months old. Add Wasim Akram walking away from Sialkot to the mix, and instead of building stability and credibility, the league looks like it’s improvising its own script in real time — hardly the image a premier tournament should be projecting.

Is PSL in wrong hands this year?

 

[Rana]

I’m not convinced about the format

The first round is a joke.

 

[Babeikh]

Yeah format seems a joke, team names are a joke, just generally it seems a joke. I think they should have gone with 1 extra team for a few years rather than 2 and they should have been more careful about who they gave the franchise rights to ie not a bunch of jokers who would call their business 'Pindiz' or 'Stallionz'

 

[Ball Blazer]

poll added guys

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I’m not convinced about the format

The first round is a joke.

What's the new format?

 

[Rana]

What's the new format?

I think the first round is pretty much friendlies where everyone plays each other or 7 games

And then there is a proper league round where everyone qualifies and plays 3 games each towards play off (top 4)

So basically you can lose all games in the first round, but win 2/3 in the next one and play the play offs.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I think the first round is pretty much friendlies where everyone plays each other or 7 games

And then there is a proper league round where everyone qualifies and plays 3 games each towards play off (top 4)

So basically you can lose all games in the first round, but win 2/3 in the next one and play the play offs.

That makes absolutely no sense as a format. What's the point of the first round?

 

[shah9425]

It's been disaster so far
Stupid names
Robbed Multan of a team
Owners backing out

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

The threat of this being a financial disaster like the Schonn Group one is real.

Qalandars have an ownership dispute which may create negative press.
No one is really sure who owns the Stallions.
The old franchises have an unfair advantage in terms of franchise fee and they dominate the council by 5-3 which means reaching consensus on financial decisions will almost be impossible.
Removal of Multan as a home team will 100% impact ground attendance if that stadium is still hosting games.
Didn't know about the format & still don't understand it fully but it looks dodgy.

 

[daytrader]

Naqvi just trying to show efficiency that he's doing something. I guess getting something done is at least better than only getting it done once it's perfect.

Some positives though - foreign Pakistani investors are interested and possibly even non Pakistanis if PSL management plays their cards right. Since we have a Houston team, add a team from the Arab countries. Something like Dubai Dynamites or Riyadh Royals would give the PSL a global appeal and attract Arab money. Hold a PSL opener in Saudi

 

[BouncerGuy]

I don't like the names, nor will I support any single team... I am not interested in following a single team... May the best team wins.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

WHats the need to wrist slit so early? Sure there has been some hiccups but not one ball has been bowled and we are saying it has potential to be the worst ever. Based on some financial deals that went wrong, and Ali Tareens tweets?

 

[Rana]

That makes absolutely no sense as a format. What's the point of the first round?

Because every franchise needs 10 games for broadcasting/sponsorship etc. that’s what they agreed to in the financial model.

 

[Major]

Inshallah

 

[Bhaijaan]

Houston Kingsmen vs Rawalpindi Pindiz

 

[shah9425]

The threat of this being a financial disaster like the Schonn Group one is real.

Qalandars have an ownership dispute which may create negative press.
No one is really sure who owns the Stallions.
The old franchises have an unfair advantage in terms of franchise fee and they dominate the council by 5-3 which means reaching consensus on financial decisions will almost be impossible.
Removal of Multan as a home team will 100% impact ground attendance if that stadium is still hosting games.
Didn't know about the format & still don't understand it fully but it looks dodgy.

Multan people are very hurt still after their removal
And changed to that stupid pindiz name

Don't think so many people will be watching in Multan after this

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Houston Kingsmen vs Rawalpindi Pindiz

Just Pindiz brother

 

[Kianig89]

Dont be surprised if Stallionz gets an ownership change in the middle of a game , comical stuff

 

[Varun]

Houston Kingsmen vs Rawalpindi Pindiz