Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to introduce a new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise named “Pindi Express” to represent Rawalpindi, the city famously associated with his cricketing legacy.
Akhtar, known as the “Rawalpindi Express” and holder of the record for the fastest delivery in international cricket, made the appeal during a discussion on the ongoing PSL season. He called the franchise name a natural tribute to both his career and his hometown’s cricketing heritage.
“The city breathes cricket. With the kind of talent Rawalpindi has produced over the years, it’s only fitting that it gets its own PSL team,” Akhtar said.
He pointed to a lineage of elite fast bowlers from the region, including Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf, as further justification. He added, “If I’ve said that it has to be Pindi Express, then you must vouch for this hashtag for me… Pindi is the city of princes, a city full of extraordinary talent.”
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has featured prominently in recent PSL seasons, regularly hosting high-scoring contests and drawing large crowds. Akhtar believes formal franchise representation is the logical next step.
The proposal comes amid growing anticipation surrounding PSL’s planned expansion. Salman Naseer, the league’s Chief Operating Officer, recently confirmed that the 11th edition of the tournament — set for next year — may see the inclusion of two new teams.
“By the end of this year, we might get two more teams,” Naseer said. “Now that we’ve successfully brought cricket back to traditional centers, the next step is expanding beyond these four cities — Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan.”
The PSL launched in 2016 with five franchises and added Multan Sultans in 2018. Calls for further expansion continue to grow as the league gains momentum at home and abroad.
Akhtar’s proposal, if taken forward, could mark the return of Rawalpindi to centre stage — this time with a franchise that carries his nickname and the city’s identity.
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