PCB opens direct signings window for PSL teams, announces pre-season roadmap

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday opened the direct signings window for all eight HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises and unveiled the pre-season roadmap for the 12th edition of the tournament, which will be held from March 18 to May 2 next year. The player-movement cycle has begun with immediate effect, with the Player Auction scheduled for Jan 23 next year. HBL PSL 12 will feature 44 matches, comprising 40 league fixtures and four playoffs, over 46 days. For the first time in the league’s history, matches will be played across five to six venues. Under the direct signings rules, each franchise will be allowed to sign one marquee player who did not feature in either HBL PSL 10 or HBL PSL 11. The window will remain open until Nov 23.

A workshop involving the franchises next week will finalise retention deadlines, the pre-auction trade window, auction regulations and playing conditions. In a significant development for domestic cricket, the PCB has formally aligned the National T20 Gold and National T20 Silver tournaments with the PSL pre-season calendar. The two competitions will now serve as the primary talent-identification pathway, providing outstanding domestic performers with a clearer route into the franchise league and potentially earning them selection for the national team. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi described the upcoming season as the league’s most ambitious edition yet. “HBL PSL is Pakistan cricket’s biggest stage, and Season 12 will be its most ambitious yet. HBL PSL 11 ended before a record crowd, and we are building on that momentum by taking the league to more cities than ever before,” he said in a statement. “The roadmap we have finalised and are partially announcing today gives every stakeholder, from franchises and players to…