The race to secure one of the new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises is heating up, with OZ Group publicly signaling its interest in adding a team from either Faisalabad or Sialkot to PSL 11.
A multi-sector business group, OZ Group, led by chairman Hamza Majeed, has investments spread across real estate, technology, trading, and food services. With operations in Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE, the group brings both regional familiarity and international exposure to the table.
Faisalabad and Sialkot have emerged as particularly attractive options in this expansion cycle, and OZ Group has made it clear that its focus is on securing rights to one of these two cities.
They aren't alone in that ambition.
Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen and the Tareen Group have also shown interest in acquiring a franchise from the same pool, with a special inclination towards Sialkot, hoping to revive the legacy of the iconic Sialkot Stallions.
The Sialkot Stallions remain one of the most successful domestic T20 sides in Pakistan's history. Established in 2004 and based out of Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot, the team dominated the local T20 landscape for years.
Under coach Azmat Rana, the Stallions claimed five consecutive National T20 Cup titles between the 2005-06 and 2009-10 seasons, setting a benchmark for consistency and excellence. They also hold the world record for the longest winning streak in top-tier domestic T20 cricket, stringing together 25 successive victories at the height of their dominance.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already confirmed that 10 bidders have cleared the qualification process for the upcoming auction. The franchise sale is scheduled to be held on Thursday, January 8, at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
Successful bidders will be allowed to choose from a shortlist of approved host cities, which includes Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, and Sialkot.