PCB Explores PSL Sixes, a New Six-a-Side Tournament for the Off-Season
The Pakistan Cricket Board is exploring a new six-a-side cricket tournament, tentatively named PSL Sixes, that could take franchise cricket to smaller cities. The PSL Sixes plan was disclosed by Salman Naseer, chief executive of the Pakistan Super League, during a podcast, and it is still at the idea stage, not a confirmed competition.
Under the proposal, the tournament would run during the PSL off-season, with short, entertainment-focused matches in smaller venues that have not hosted PSL fixtures. The aim is to give supporters another way to follow franchise cricket outside the main T20 league window.
PSL Sixes plan: what the PCB is considering
Naseer stressed that the proposal has not been finalised. The board is examining whether a six-a-side event could become a recurring feature, with an emphasis on making matches entertaining and accessible to fans.
Rather than adding another conventional T20 competition, the PCB is considering a format built around shorter games. Taking the event to smaller cities is a central part of the idea. While the PSL has an established franchise structure and a major place in Pakistan’s cricket calendar, a compact tournament could allow the board to reach audiences beyond its usual venues.
Details such as the launch date, participating teams, venues, and competition structure have not been confirmed. For now, the key question is whether the PCB will turn the concept into an organised competition.
A franchise model, not a national-team event
The Hong Kong Sixes provides a useful comparison, although the formats may differ in how teams are organised. The Hong Kong tournament features international sides in a condensed six-a-side format. Pakistan have a strong record in that competition, winning the title six times since its launch in 1992, and they are the defending champions ahead of the next edition, scheduled for October 31 and November 1.
The proposed PSL Sixes, by contrast, is expected to draw on the franchise model associated with the Pakistan Super League, with teams potentially representing cities or regions rather than national sides. That structure remains a proposal, not a confirmed tournament format.
Why the idea fits Pakistan’s cricket moment
Pakistan’s cricket calendar is busy, and the board has been looking for ways to widen the game’s reach. The national side is in the middle of a home ODI tri-series, with England due in Lahore for the next match, and domestic cricket continues to feed players into the national set-up.
A short-format, off-season event would give fringe players and younger talent a stage, while giving fans in smaller cities a live taste of franchise cricket. Short matches also suit broadcast and digital audiences, where attention is scarce and fast, high-scoring games travel well.
The proposal also follows a difficult year for Pakistan’s wider cricket ties. The country withdrew from the World Championship of Legends 2026 amid the ongoing rivalry with India, and the board has since looked for home-grown properties it can control. PSL Sixes, if approved, would be exactly that: a Pakistan-owned product built around the PSL brand.
What happens next
If approved, PSL Sixes could give the board a new off-season property while taking cricket to audiences beyond the established PSL venues. The board will need to settle the format, the number of teams, player availability, and broadcast plans before any launch date can be announced.
For fans, the watch points are simple: will the tournament be annual, which cities will host it, and will PSL franchises run the new sides? Until those answers arrive, PSL Sixes stays a proposal with promise, not a fixture on the calendar.
Pakistan’s recent sporting news shows how fast a story can move from idea to headline. Bukayo Saka’s injury has worried Arsenal fans, Jose Mourinho is back for the Clasico, Bayern Munich have updated fans on Vincent Kompany’s hospital stay, and South Africa have lost Anrich Nortje for the deciding Test against Australia. PSL Sixes will join that list of talking points if the PCB gives it the green light.
Frequently asked questions
What is PSL Sixes?
A proposed six-a-side cricket tournament explored by the Pakistan Cricket Board, tentatively named PSL Sixes, to be played during the PSL off-season.
Has PSL Sixes been confirmed?
No. Salman Naseer, the PSL chief executive, disclosed the idea on a podcast and stressed it is not yet finalised.
How would PSL Sixes differ from the Hong Kong Sixes?
The Hong Kong Sixes features national sides, while PSL Sixes is expected to use the PSL franchise model, with teams representing cities or regions.
When would PSL Sixes take place?
During the PSL off-season, though no launch date, venues, or teams have been confirmed yet.
