PSL Teams and Owners: Every Franchise Explained
There are eight PSL teams after the 2026 expansion: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans, Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz. The Pakistan Super League started with five sides in 2016, added Multan in 2018 and grew to eight for its 11th edition. This guide explains who owns each franchise, which city it represents and how many titles it has won.
PK Portals is an independent information site and is not linked to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the PSL or any franchise. The details below are based on PCB announcements and major news reports up to the end of the 2026 season, and owners, captains and coaches can change before the next edition.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| League | Pakistan Super League (PSL), run by the PCB |
| First season | 2016, with five teams |
| Number of teams | 8 (from the 2026 season) |
| Teams added in 2026 | Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz |
| Renamed in 2026 | Sialkot Stallionz became Multan Sultans before a ball was bowled |
| Most titles | Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars, 3 each |
| 2026 champions | Peshawar Zalmi (beat Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final on 3 May 2026) |
| Ownership term | The five original franchises renewed their rights for 10 years in November 2025 |
All PSL teams and owners at a glance
The table below lists every franchise that played in PSL 11 (2026), the group or person behind it and its trophy count so far.
| Team | City | Owner | First PSL season | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad United | Islamabad | Leonine Global Sports (Ali Naqvi) | 2016 | 3 (2016, 2018, 2024) |
| Karachi Kings | Karachi | Salman Iqbal (ARY group) | 2016 | 1 (2020) |
| Lahore Qalandars | Lahore | Rana family (Qatar Lubricants Company) | 2016 | 3 (2022, 2023, 2025) |
| Peshawar Zalmi | Peshawar | Javed Afridi | 2016 | 2 (2017, 2026) |
| Quetta Gladiators | Quetta | Nadeem Omar | 2016 | 1 (2019) |
| Multan Sultans | Multan | CD Ventures (Gohar Shah), with OZ Developers | 2026 in current form | 1 (2021, won by the earlier Multan franchise) |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | Hyderabad | FKS Group (Fawad Sarwar) | 2026 | 0 (runners-up in 2026) |
| Rawalpindiz | Rawalpindi | Walee Technologies | 2026 | 0 |
The original five PSL teams
The first PSL was played in the UAE in February 2016 with five city franchises. All five are still in the league and signed fresh 10-year agreements with the PCB in late 2025.
- Islamabad United: The first PSL champions and one of the most consistent sides, with titles in 2016, 2018 and 2024. The franchise is run by Ali Naqvi’s group.
- Karachi Kings: Backed by Salman Iqbal of the ARY group. Karachi waited until 2020 for their first title, which they won at the National Stadium in front of home fans.
- Lahore Qalandars: Owned by the Rana family. They struggled in early seasons but won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 and a third in 2025.
- Peshawar Zalmi: Led by Javed Afridi. Zalmi won in 2017, reached several more finals and finally lifted a second trophy in 2026.
- Quetta Gladiators: Owned by Nadeem Omar. Quetta were runners-up in the first two seasons and won the title in 2019.
How the PSL grew from five to eight teams
The league has added and reshuffled franchises several times. These are the key steps, in order.
| When | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2016 | PSL launched with Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta |
| 2018 | Multan Sultans joined as the sixth team |
| Late 2018 | The PCB ended the first Multan agreement and the rights passed to a group led by the Tareen family |
| November 2025 | The five original franchises renewed for 10 years; the Multan agreement was not renewed |
| 8 January 2026 | Hyderabad (FKS Group, Rs1.75 billion) and Sialkot (OZ Developers, Rs1.85 billion) won at the franchise auction in Islamabad |
| 9 February 2026 | Walee Technologies bought the Multan rights for a record Rs2.45 billion and moved the team to Rawalpindi as Rawalpindiz |
| 3 March 2026 | The PCB approved renaming Sialkot Stallionz as Multan Sultans after CD Ventures took a majority stake |
| 26 March to 3 May 2026 | First eight-team season, won by Peshawar Zalmi |
So the Multan Sultans you see today are, on paper, a new franchise that took over the Multan name, while the old Multan franchise now plays as Rawalpindiz.
PSL teams captains in 2026
Captains are chosen by each franchise every season, so check the official team accounts before the next edition. These were the leaders in PSL 11:
| Team | Captain (2026) |
|---|---|
| Islamabad United | Shadab Khan |
| Karachi Kings | David Warner |
| Lahore Qalandars | Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| Peshawar Zalmi | Babar Azam |
| Quetta Gladiators | Saud Shakeel |
| Multan Sultans | Ashton Turner |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | Marnus Labuschagne |
| Rawalpindiz | Mohammad Rizwan |
How PSL franchise ownership works
The PCB owns the league itself. A franchise is a right to field a team for a fixed period, and the owner pays the board a fee for that right. In return, franchises receive a share of central income such as broadcast and sponsorship money, plus their own earnings from shirt sponsors, merchandise and local deals.
- Fixed term: The first agreements ran for 10 years. The renewals signed in 2025 cover the next 10 years for the five original teams.
- Auctions: New or returned franchises are sold through an open auction held by the PCB, as happened in January and February 2026.
- Player selection: Teams build squads through the player-selection system the PCB announces for each season, with rules on foreign players, retentions and emerging players.
- Home city: Each franchise carries a city name, but PSL matches are played at a small number of PCB-approved venues, so a team does not always play all its games at home.
Which PSL team is the most successful?
After 11 seasons, Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars share the record with three titles each. Peshawar Zalmi are next with two, while Quetta Gladiators, Karachi Kings and the earlier Multan franchise have one each. Among the 2026 newcomers, Hyderabad Kingsmen did best by reaching the final in their debut season. For the full year-by-year list, see our PSL winners list.
Related guides
- PSL winners list from 2016 to 2026
- Pakistan cricket team schedule 2026-27
- DLS method in cricket explained
- More trending topics in Pakistan
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in the PSL now?
Eight teams played in PSL 11 in 2026: Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans, Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz.
Which are the new PSL teams?
Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindiz joined in 2026. A Sialkot franchise was also sold, but it was renamed Multan Sultans before the season started.
Who is the owner of Rawalpindiz?
Walee Technologies bought the franchise rights in February 2026 for Rs2.45 billion, the highest price paid for a PSL team so far.
Who owns Hyderabad Kingsmen?
Hyderabad Kingsmen are owned by FKS Group, led by Fawad Sarwar, which won the Hyderabad franchise at the January 2026 auction.
Which PSL team has won the most titles?
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars have won three titles each, the most in PSL history.
Who won PSL 2026?
Peshawar Zalmi won PSL 11, beating Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 3 May 2026.
Last updated: 18 October 2026. Team owners, names, captains and squads can change between seasons, so check PCB and official franchise announcements for the latest details.
