PSL Expansion Exposes Stark Reality: Two New Franchises Cost Less Than One IPL Superstar’s Salary

In a move that’s equal parts ambitious and revealing, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially expanded the PSL expansion to eight teams for the 2026 season—selling two new franchises for a combined $12.75 million (approximately Rs 106 crore). On the surface, it’s a win for Pakistani cricket: more teams, more cities represented, more fan engagement. But dig deeper, and the numbers tell a sobering story about where the PSL truly stands in the global T20 pecking order.

Here’s the jaw-dropper: the entire acquisition cost for not one, but two professional T20 franchises is **less than the annual salary** of a single top-tier Indian Premier League (IPL) superstar. Players like Pat Cummins ($2.3 million), Virat Kohli ($2.1 million), or even young guns like Rishabh Pant ($1.9 million) command paychecks that dwarf the per-franchise price tag in the PSL—which works out to just $6.375 million each . This isn’t just a gap; it’s a canyon.

Table of Contents

• The PSL Expansion: What We Know
• IPL vs PSL: The Financial Chasm Explained
• Why Is There Such a Huge Disparity?
• What This Means for Pakistani Cricket
• Can the PSL Ever Close the Gap?
• Conclusion: Growth ≠ Parity
• Sources

The PSL Expansion: What We Know

The PCB announced the addition of two new franchises—one likely based in Faisalabad and the other in Multan or another major city—as part of its long-term vision to deepen domestic talent pools and boost commercial appeal. The auction attracted interest from local business groups, with the winning bids totaling $12.75 million for a 10-year term .

While this represents growth for the PSL, which began in 2016 with just five teams, the valuation pales in comparison to other leagues. Even the newer Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA sold its teams for $15–20 million apiece. The PSL’s modest pricing reflects both opportunity and limitation: a chance to onboard passionate owners at a lower barrier to entry, but also a clear signal of the league’s current market ceiling.

IPL vs PSL: The Financial Chasm Explained

To truly grasp the scale of the difference, consider these eye-opening comparisons:

• Franchise Valuation: The average IPL team is now valued at over **$1 billion**. In 2022, the Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants were sold for around **$870 million each** for a 10-year term . Meanwhile, a PSL franchise costs **less than 1%** of that.
• Player Salaries: The PSL’s highest-paid players (e.g., Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi) earn around **$175,000–$200,000** per season. In the IPL, that’s mid-tier money—comparable to a solid domestic all-rounder, not a global icon.
• Media Rights: The IPL’s 2023–2027 media rights deal is worth **₹48,390 crore** (~$6.2 billion). The PSL’s latest TV deal? Roughly **$35 million per year**—less than what the IPL makes in a single weekend of broadcasting .

This isn’t just about cricket—it’s about scale, audience, and advertising. The IPL operates in a market of 1.4 billion people with deep corporate sponsorship ecosystems. The PSL, despite passionate fans, contends with a smaller economy and geopolitical constraints that limit international investment.

Why Is There Such a Huge Disparity?

Several structural factors explain why the PSL expansion comes at such a modest cost:

1. Market Size & Revenue Potential: India’s consumer market dwarfs Pakistan’s. Brands pay premiums to access IPL’s 500+ million viewers.
2. Corporate Backing: IPL teams are owned by billionaires (Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani) and global conglomerates. PSL owners are largely local industrialists with more limited capital.
3. Global Star Power: The IPL attracts the world’s best players as a priority. Many internationals treat the PSL as secondary due to scheduling and pay.
4. Political & Security Perceptions: Despite improvements, lingering concerns affect foreign broadcaster and sponsor confidence in Pakistan-based events.

What This Means for Pakistani Cricket

On the bright side, the PSL expansion is a net positive. More teams mean more playing opportunities for domestic talent, greater regional representation, and increased match-day revenue. It also signals the PCB’s commitment to building a sustainable league model—even if it’s on a smaller scale.

However, the financial reality means the PSL cannot compete with the IPL in a bidding war for global stars or broadcast eyeballs. Its path to success lies not in imitation, but in differentiation: focusing on high-quality, competitive cricket, nurturing homegrown heroes, and leveraging its unique cultural energy. [INTERNAL_LINK:future-of-psl-in-global-t20-landscape] explores how the league can carve its own niche without chasing IPL-level economics.

Can the PSL Ever Close the Gap?

Realistically, no—not in the foreseeable future. The IPL’s dominance is entrenched by India’s economic heft and cricket’s quasi-religious status there. However, the PSL doesn’t need to “beat” the IPL to be successful. Leagues like Australia’s BBL and England’s The Hundred thrive without matching IPL valuations, by focusing on fan experience, innovation, and local relevance.

For the PSL, the goal should be steady, organic growth: securing longer-term broadcast deals, attracting diaspora investment, and ensuring consistent on-field quality. As noted by the ESPNcricinfo editorial team, “The PSL’s strength has always been its heart, not its wallet” .

Conclusion: Growth ≠ Parity

The sale of two new PSL franchises for less than an IPL superstar’s paycheck is a stark reminder of the uneven playing field in global T20 cricket. Yet, it shouldn’t diminish the significance of the PSL expansion. For Pakistan, this is progress—a step toward a richer, more inclusive domestic ecosystem. The league may never rival the IPL’s financial might, but it can—and must—build a legacy on its own terms: passionate, competitive, and proudly Pakistani.

Sources

• Times of India: PSL’s big expansion, small price tag
• Business Standard: IPL Franchise Valuations 2022
• Sportz Business Review: PSL Media Rights Deal Analysis
• ESPNcricinfo: PSL 2026 Expansion Announcement