- New League will be in three cities – Islamabad/Rawalpindi; Lahore and Karachi
- League inspired by successful North American PPL franchise model
- Five-year strategy to grow the League across Pakistan, Asia and Gulf States
- First six teams sold for PKR 2.5m
The Premier Padel League of Pakistan will launch on January 5, 2026 – creating a new era for padel in the country.
Inspired by the success of the North American-based Pro Padel League, the new Premier Padel League of Pakistan (PPLP) will have a prize fund of PKR 30 million ($106k; £79k €91k).
The first year will feature tournaments in three locations – the ‘Twin City’ of Islamabad / Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi.
The ‘Twin City’ tournament will launch the League on January 5 and will run through to March.
The first team owners were revealed on December 8 following the first franchise auction featuring 10 bidders. The six Twin City teams – the Lions, Hawks, Sharks, Stallions, Bulls and Markhor – sold for in excess of PKR 2,500,000 (approx. $8,900; £6,690; €7,660).
The players for those six teams – which are split into three categories – go under the hammer on December 22.
Each team will have between eight to 12 players from three different playing levels for elite, competitive and developing level players respectively.
The PPLP has also been founded to provide Pakistani padel players a career pathway and the opportunity to compete internationally and has a strategy to grow the league, initially doubling the number of cities competing in 2027.
Chairman and CEO Basim Ahmed, who is the majority backer for the PPLP, said: “The League has been founded to build on the passion for padel across the country and to provide ambitious and talented players a clear career pathway.
“Our aim is to provide an ecosystem for padel in Pakistan. Padel is not hindered by the traditions of much more established sports so there is a real opportunity to lay the foundations from the start.
“The PPLP takes its inspiration from the PPL in North America and I spoke with key people in the organization to understand more ahead of launching the PPLP.
“There is a five-year strategy in place to grow the League – firstly across Pakistan; then to take it regionally across Asia and the Gulf States and eventually to have international Leagues competing home and away.
“This is an exciting development for padel in Pakistan and one that offers real opportunity for the sport and players to establish itself in the country.”
The Lahore tournament, which will run from April to June, will follow the same structure with an auction of the teams and players, with Karachi set to run from July to September.
The winners from each playing category in each tournament will secure their place in the grand final in the autumn, which will be attended by APPT pro player Marc Bernils. The event will also be live streamed by the PPLP’s official partner myco.
The League is planning to secure partnerships with existing leagues and tournament organisers such as the Asia Pacific Padel Tour, Pro Padel League and the International Padel Federation with the aim of securing playing opportunities for grand final winners.
It also plans to expand its reach and awareness by affiliating with overseas padel clubs.
Ahmed, who has partners backing the venture, is also inviting investors with an understanding of the padel industry to join the League.
He added: “We have only just started the League and had 10 potential club owners for the first six clubs. There is a lot of interest in the League and potential sponsors and investors are looking to see how it develops.
“The aim is to have this League recognised across the world and to have international partners that can provide platforms for the players and to increase awareness of the PPLP.”
The launch of the PPLP is another example of the growth of padel in Pakistan, which is estimated to have 50,000 amateur players and 350 courts.
