The debriefing sessions on the Pakistan Super League (PSL) are scheduled to take place on July 2 and 3, local media confirmed.

These sessions will be led by PSL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer and his team. Franchise owners and other key stakeholders are expected to attend. The discussions will focus on reviewing the conduct and performance of previous PSL editions, while also exploring the league’s future direction.

The PSL recently went through a major structural change after being turned into a separate entity, with Salman Naseer appointed as its first CEO. However, many important positions within the league’s setup are still vacant.

With ten successful seasons completed, franchise valuations are currently being reviewed. A 25% increase in franchise fees is also being considered. All six existing franchises had confirmed their intent to retain ownership as of December last year. However, Multan Sultans’ owner, Ali Tareen — who had previously voiced concerns about the league’s financial model — has remained silent. Multan continues to be the most expensive franchise, paying over PKR 1 billion annually.

Plans to expand the league to eight teams for PSL 11 have stalled, with no progress reported so far. According to sources, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet opened discussions with the franchises about the proposed expansion or changes in the financial model for new teams.

In addition to these concerns, several major commercial agreements — including those for title sponsorship, broadcasting rights, ground rights, and live streaming — are up for renewal. Currently, the PCB earns around PKR 900 million per year from title sponsorships, while local broadcast rights have brought in approximately PKR 6.3 billion, and international media rights earned $4.6 million.

If the league expands to eight teams, the number of matches could rise from 34 to 54, potentially boosting revenue by nearly 30%. However, franchise owners say they have not yet received any official communication about such plans.

Akmal unhappy 
Former cricketer Kamran Akmal on Monday criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for appointing Azhar Mahmood as the interim head coach of the national Test team, calling the decision illogical and reflective of poor management.

Speaking on the YouTube show, Akmal expressed confusion over the rationale behind Mahmood’s temporary appointment, comparing it to PCB’s earlier controversial move of naming Mickey Arthur as director of cricket while he continued his commitments with county cricket.
“I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision,” Akmal said.  “It’s exactly like the time PCB made Mickey Arthur director of cricket while allowing him to continue working with a county team. I couldn’t understand it then, and I can’t understand it now.” Akmal held such inconsistent decisions responsible for the ongoing decline in Pakistan cricket, saying these appointments have created long-term problems. “That role [Arthur’s] has continued, and it has brought many issues into Pakistan cricket,” he added.  “The same thing is now happening with the interim coaching setup. Before this, it was Aaqib Javed, then Mohammad Hafeez and now Azhar.”

The former wicketkeeper-batter advised PCB to adopt a professional approach and make clear, long-term decisions rather than appeasing everyone. “These decisions reflect a lack of seriousness. When the PCB starts thinking seriously and acting professionally, it won’t have to make such compromises or temporary appointments,” Akmal said.

He also criticised the board for what he termed a ‘please-all’ strategy, saying that Azhar’s appointment appeared to be more about rewarding loyalty than building a robust coaching system.
“Everyone has been appeased, and now Azhar has also been rewarded. If you’ve made him head coach, then give him the full time and responsibility. Otherwise, what’s the point?” he concluded.