Pakistan Super League Faces Multiple Franchise Ownership Disputes Ahead of 2026 Season

The Pakistan Cricket Board is confronting fresh challenges off the field as ownership disputes have surfaced within at least two franchises of the Pakistan Super League ahead of the 2026 season. With the league scheduled to expand to eight teams this year, tensions over shareholding and control have drawn attention and prompted formal complaints to league officials

At the centre of one controversy is the newly established Sialkot franchise. One of its purported majority owners, Muhammad Shahid, has registered a formal complaint with the PSL’s chief executive, alleging that his partners are attempting to sell franchise shares without his consent. Shahid claims he holds a 76 percent stake in the team, while the other stakeholders collectively hold the remaining 24 percent. According to his complaint, these minority shareholders are seeking to dispose of shares beyond their authorised portion, potentially undermining his controlling interest in the franchise. The Sialkot team was sold at auction late last year in a substantial deal as part of the league’s expansion drive. 

In a separate development, ownership tensions have also flared within another high-profile franchise. Fawad Rana, an original owner of the Lahore Qalandars, has taken issue with the actions of his brothers regarding share transfers in that team. After securing a favourable court ruling in his dispute with his siblings, Rana lodged a complaint with league officials to reaffirm his majority ownership status. Court documents indicate that he alleged his brothers sold shares tied to his company without his knowledge, a matter that the judiciary subsequently resolved in his favour. 

These disputes come at a pivotal moment for the PSL as the league prepares for its 2026 season, which will feature an expanded format with more teams and heightened commercial interest. The board’s efforts to manage these internal ownership issues will be crucial in ensuring that preparations for the upcoming tournament remain on track and that the focus stays on competition and growth. 

As the PSL continues to grow in popularity and financial stakes rise, the resolution of these franchise conflicts may set important precedents for governance and investor relations within the league’s emerging commercial framework.