The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is exploring plans to introduce a six-a-side tournament during the Pakistan Super League off-season. Notably, the proposed competition, tentatively named the HBL PSL Sixes, would operate alongside the main league and help expand the PSL brand beyond its existing annual schedule.
According to Cricinfo, the PCB discussed the possibility of a mid-year tournament at the PSL governing council meeting in September. The challenge will be finding a suitable window when overseas players are available. Notably, the PCB is considering a city- or region-based franchise competition.
PCB Explores New Tournament to Take Cricket to Smaller Cities
PSL chief executive Salman Naseer said the idea remains at an early stage, with officials yet to finalize the format or schedule. The board wants to keep the league active throughout the year while creating additional revenue opportunities for franchises and its media rights partner.
"Nothing is finalised but there are some exciting plans, and one of them is a sixes tournament, called the HBL PSL Sixes, which will be in the off-season," Naseer said on a PSL podcast released ahead of the governing council meeting.
Naseer, who also advises PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, said the proposed event could become a regular feature if the board moves ahead with the plan. He also highlighted the opportunity to take professional cricket to fans outside the league's traditional venues.
"We will look into the prospect of launching this tournament, and it will be very exciting, entertaining and engaging for the fans when it becomes a recurring feature," he said.
"And maybe even going to the smaller stadiums and smaller cities, where we have not been able to take PSL and we know the fans are eager to watch cricket. So a smaller event might be doable, which is what we are exploring," Naseer added.
How the Hong Kong Sixes Format Works
The Hong Kong Sixes began in 1992 to promote cricket in markets where the sport has a smaller following. The ICC-sanctioned competition features six players per team, with each innings lasting five overs and matches typically running for around 45 minutes.
The format encourages aggressive batting through several special rules. Every outfield player, apart from the wicketkeeper, must bowl one over, while wides and no-balls carry a two-run penalty. Batters must retire after scoring 31 runs but can return if their teammates are dismissed.
If a team loses five wickets, its final batter continues alone, with a dismissed teammate allowed to act only as a non-striking runner. These rules keep matches short and fast-paced, making the format suitable for a compact tournament with fewer players and simpler logistics.
The Hong Kong Sixes usually features a mix of retired stars and fringe players rather than the strongest national teams. The PCB would need to consider similar player-availability issues while planning the PSL version, particularly if it wants active overseas cricketers to participate.
Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2027 to Clash With IPL for Third Consecutive Year
The PCB has announced that the 2027 season will run from March 18 to May 2, overlapping with the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the third consecutive year. The Pakistan Super League governing council is expected to confirm the full fixture list, along with the dates and venue for the player auction.
The scheduling overlap could again create a challenge for franchises seeking overseas players who have commitments in the IPL. It also highlights the importance of finding a separate window for the proposed six-a-side tournament.
Launched in 2016, the tournament initially took place in the United Arab Emirates before the PCB gradually brought matches to Pakistan. Since 2020, the tournament has been staged entirely in the country, with Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi serving as its four main venues.
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