Hyderabad Joins PSL as FKS Win New Franchise for Rs1.75 Billion
ISLAMABAD: Kingsmen (FKS Group) have secured ownership of one of the two newly introduced Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises after emerging victorious in a high-profile auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on Thursday. The new team will represent Hyderabad, marking a significant addition to the league.
All nine shortlisted bidders participated aggressively in the auction, submitting substantial offers for the expansion franchise. Ultimately, the company owned by Fawad Sarwar outbid the competition with a winning offer of Rs1.75 billion ($6.25 million) to claim the franchise rights.
Kingsmen is steadily establishing itself as a prominent cricketing brand, particularly in the United States through the Chicago Kingsmen, who compete in Minor League Cricket. The group is also expanding its footprint in Pakistan, with ambitions to develop elite-level infrastructure and promote emerging cricketing talent.
Captained by Pakistan all-rounder Hammad Azam, the Chicago Kingsmen recently featured in the Top End T20 Series in Darwin, Australia. In their maiden appearance, they delivered an impressive performance by finishing at the top of the standings with five victories from six matches, accumulating 10 points and registering a net run rate of 1.428. Their campaign, however, ended in the semi-finals following a six-wicket defeat to the Adelaide Strikers Academy in a low-scoring contest.
This development represents the second expansion phase in PSL history. The league previously grew during its third season when Multan Sultans joined, raising the number of teams from five to six.
With the upcoming 11th edition, the PSL has expanded once again by adding two new franchises, increasing the total count to eight teams.
The 11th season of the PSL is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, promising another exciting chapter for cricket fans in Pakistan and worldwide.
It is worth noting that successful bidders were given the freedom to choose a home city from a PCB-approved list, which included Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.
