PSL's Six-a-Side Plan Could Change the Cricket Calendar

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-23

The Pakistan Super League is quietly working on something that could shift how fans think about the off-season. According to league chief executive Salman Naseer, the PCB is exploring a six-a-side tournament that would run alongside the main PSL event. The goal? Generate a fresh revenue stream and keep the PSL brand alive all year long. ### What the PSL Chief Actually Said Naseer confirmed the idea during a PSL podcast episode released before the governing council meeting. He was careful to stress that nothing is set in stone, but the concept is real. The format would likely resemble the Hong Kong Sixes, and the tournament would carry the name HBL PSL Sixes. It would take place in the off-season, away from the main competition. > "Nothing is finalised, but there are some exciting plans, and one of them is a sixes tournament," Naseer said on the podcast. Naseer also serves as an advisor to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. He said the board will study the prospect of launching the event and hopes it becomes a recurring feature on the calendar. One idea that stands out: a smaller tournament could travel to stadiums and cities where the PSL has never played before. ### Why the PCB Wants a Year-Round PSL Presence The proposal follows a September report from Cricinfo, which said the PCB had raised the option of a mid-year tournament after the last governing council meeting. The board suggested adding it within the existing rights agreement. Franchises and the media rights partner would share the additional revenue from it. The PCB has recently looked at several ways to keep the PSL brand active across the full year. Officials believe a six-a-side event can support that aim. Matches in the format finish quickly and involve fewer players, so the logistical demands remain low. The board also expects such a competition to help take the league into smaller Pakistani cities. The PSL has used four venues in Pakistan since the league moved into the country in full in 2020. Those venues are Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. The league began in 2016 with matches in the UAE, and the PCB shifted games to Pakistan in stages over the following years. ### Foreign Player Availability Remains the Main Challenge Finding a suitable window presents the biggest obstacle. Overseas players must be free to join their PSL teams, and international and franchise schedules around the world leave limited gaps. The PCB has not announced any dates for the sixes event. The league already faces scheduling pressure in its main tournament. The PCB announced earlier this month that the 2027 PSL will clash with the IPL for the third consecutive year. Talks between the board and team owners on moving the PSL to January have also taken place. The governing council is expected to confirm the schedule for next year's tournament. It will also set dates and a venue for the player auction. Any decision on the sixes tournament may follow once those matters are settled, though the board has not given a timeline. ### What's Still Up in the Air The PSL has not confirmed the number of teams, the match format or the venues for the proposed competition. Naseer said the plans remain at an early stage, and the PCB will explore the options before announcing further details. So what should fans watch for? A few key milestones: - The governing council meeting and any schedule confirmation - An official announcement on the player auction dates and venue - Word on whether the sixes event lands inside the existing rights deal - Any signal on overseas player availability for an off-season window For now, the sixes tournament is a promising idea rather than a done deal. But it tells you something about where the PCB's head is at. The league wants more cricket, more cities, and more reasons for fans to stay engaged between seasons. If the board can solve the scheduling puzzle, the HBL PSL Sixes could become a fixture fans look forward to every year.