Former Pakistan fast bowling legend Shoaib Akhtar has passionately advocated for the creation of a new Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise representing Rawalpindi, proposing the name ‘Pindi Express’ as a tribute to his own iconic nickname.
Appearing on a private television channel, Akhtar expressed his strong belief that Rawalpindi — a city rich in cricketing history — deserves its place in Pakistan’s premier T20 league.
“The city lives and breathes cricket. Considering the calibre of talent Rawalpindi has produced over the years, it’s only right that it has its own PSL team,” Akhtar stated.
Akhtar, who holds the record for the fastest delivery ever bowled in international cricket at 161.3 km/h, earned global recognition as the “Pindi Express” during his playing days.
He now hopes to immortalize that legacy through a new franchise. “I’ve always said it should be called Pindi Express. You’ve got to push this hashtag for me because honestly, this team needs to exist,” he urged. “Sohail knows it, we all know it — Pindi is the city of princes, brimming with exceptional talent.”
Rawalpindi has long been a breeding ground for fast bowlers, producing several prominent names who have gone on to represent Pakistan.
Current internationals such as Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Haris Rauf are also products of the city's cricketing landscape.
Akhtar’s call comes at a time when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is actively exploring the expansion of the PSL.
CEO Salman Naseer recently confirmed that the league plans to grow from its current six teams to eight teams following the conclusion of PSL 10.
“By the end of this year, we might see two additional teams,” Naseer revealed in an interview with local media.
He further explained the evolution of the PSL, which was originally launched in 2016 in the UAE due to security concerns but is now fully hosted in Pakistan.
“We started at a time when international cricket wasn’t being played in Pakistan.
The initial challenge was to bring the game back. Now that we’ve successfully returned to the traditional centres, the next phase is expansion beyond the four main cities – Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan.”
With Rawalpindi already serving as a regular host venue for PSL matches and boasting a vibrant fan base and cricketing heritage, Akhtar’s proposal may find strong public support, especially as the league moves toward a more inclusive and expansive future.