The Pakistan Super League was founded in 2015, played its first season in February 2016 and has grown from five teams to eight in 2026. Its first season was played entirely in the UAE, the first PSL fixture in Pakistan came in 2017, and PSL 11 in 2026 was the first edition with a player auction. Eleven seasons have produced six different champions.
Last checked 23 October 2026.
What are the key milestones in PSL history?
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| December 2015 | Five franchises sold for a combined US$93 million over 10 years |
| 2016 | First season starts on 4 February; played entirely in the UAE for security reasons; Islamabad United win |
| 2017 | The final at Gaddafi Stadium on 5 March 2017 is the first PSL fixture held in Pakistan; Peshawar Zalmi win |
| 2018 | Six teams play; the final is in Karachi |
| 2021 | Final played at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi; Multan Sultans win |
| 2022 | Lahore Qalandars win at Gaddafi Stadium; HBL title sponsorship moves to PKR 340 crore a year for 2022 to 2025 |
| 2023 | Lahore Qalandars win the final by 1 run |
| 2025 | PSL 10 (34 matches, six teams); Lahore Qalandars win the Luminara trophy |
| 2026 | PSL 11: eight teams, 44 matches, first player auction on 11 February, played only in Lahore and Karachi; Peshawar Zalmi win |
How has the league grown?
| Period | Teams | Matches in the main edition |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 and 2017 | 5 | Not checked |
| 2018 to 2025 | 6 | 34 in 2025 |
| 2026 (PSL 11) | 8 | 44 |
| 2027 (PSL 12) | 8 | 44 over 46 days (40 league and 4 playoff) |
Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz were new in 2026. Player selection used a draft from 2016 until PSL 10 and an auction from PSL 11; see the auction rules guide and glossary.
Where did the PSL play over the years?
The UAE hosted the league in 2016 and the 2021 final, and Pakistan hosted later editions. The 2026 season was held entirely in Pakistan, and the PCB cut it to two venues, Lahore and Karachi, on 22 March 2026. For stadium details see the venues page.
Where can I find more PSL history?
Champions, runners-up and players of the tournament for each season are on the winners page, while records lists run-scorers and wicket-takers, team pages cover each franchise, and the format guide explains how seasons are played. Dates and figures come from Wikipedia and are awaiting a check against PCB records.