PSL's Six-a-Side Plan Could Change Cricket's Off-Season

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-23

The Pakistan Super League has a new idea on the table, and it's a bit of a curveball. League chief executive Salman Naseer says the PCB is exploring a six-a-side tournament that would run alongside the main PSL event. The goal? Create another revenue stream and keep the league's brand alive all year long. Nothing's locked in yet. But the concept is interesting enough to pay attention to. ### What Exactly Is the PSL Planning? Naseer floated the idea during a PSL podcast episode released just before the governing council meeting. He was careful to stress that the plans are still early-stage, but he didn't hide his enthusiasm either. The proposed event would likely be called HBL PSL Sixes and would take place in the off-season. Format-wise, it could borrow a page from the Hong Kong Sixes — a fast, compact version of the game that's been around for decades. > "Nothing is finalised, but there are some exciting plans, and one of them is a sixes tournament," Naseer said on the podcast. Naseer also advises PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, so his words carry weight. He said the board wants to study the idea and hopes it becomes a recurring fixture on the cricket calendar. ### Why a Sixes Tournament Makes Sense for the PCB The PCB has been looking for ways to keep the PSL brand active beyond its usual window. A six-a-side format fits that ambition nicely. Here's why: - Matches wrap up quickly, so they're easy to schedule - Fewer players are needed, which keeps logistics manageable - Smaller venues become viable, opening the door to cities the PSL hasn't reached yet - It gives franchises and the media rights partner a fresh product to sell The PSL has only used four venues in Pakistan since the league fully moved there in 2020: Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi. A traveling sixes event could push the brand into smaller markets that have never hosted top-flight cricket. That's a real opportunity. Fans in those cities don't get many chances to see star players up close. ### The Scheduling Problem Nobody Can Ignore Here's the catch. Finding a window for overseas players is genuinely difficult. International cricket and franchise leagues around the world already fill most of the calendar. The PCB hasn't announced any dates for the sixes event, and that's probably because there aren't any obvious gaps. The main PSL tournament is already under scheduling pressure. The PCB confirmed earlier this month that the 2027 PSL will clash with the IPL for the third straight year. Talks about moving the PSL to January have also been happening with team owners. So the board has a lot on its plate before it can seriously plan a second competition. ### What Happens Next? The governing council is expected to confirm next year's schedule and set the dates and venue for the player auction. Any decision on the sixes tournament will likely wait until those items are settled. For now, the PCB hasn't confirmed the number of teams, the exact match format, or the venues. Naseer himself said the plans remain at an early stage. Still, the direction is clear. The PSL wants to be more than a once-a-year event. A sixes tournament is one way to get there — if the calendar ever cooperates.