After hosting its first game in Pakistan this year, the Pakistan Super League is setting itself much higher targets next season. Najam Sethi, the PSL chairman, revealed plans to host as many as eight matches in Pakistan during its third season next year, with four each to be held in Lahore and Karachi. Sethi also reiterated his commitment to bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.

"This time around we are going to hold eight matches in Pakistan," Sethi told Express Tribune. "Two double-headers will take place in Karachi and two double-headers will take place in Lahore."

Sethi had made the hosting of the PSL final earlier this year in Lahore his central goal this season. The uncertainty over whether that would materialise carried through right to the end. Eventually, the final was held at the Gaddafi stadium amid presidential-style security, and went off without incident. Even so, the entire foreign contingent of one of the finalists - Quetta Gladiators - opted against going to Pakistan, and had to be replaced last minute by players who had originally not been part of the competition.

Sethi said that will not happen this time. "All players featuring in the third edition of the PSL will be obliged to play in Pakistan," he said. "It will be part of their contract that they will be playing here."

Foreign players will receive 50% more than their usual fee for playing in Pakistan as an added incentive, or a 100% increase if they are icon players. "So if a player was getting let's say $10,000 for that match, then he will be getting $15,000. It is just a way to sweeten the deal for them." However, he said that Pakistan players were not in line for the same pay increases owing to budget constraints.

Security concerns have meant that the final was the only PSL game - in its two-season history - to be held in Pakistan, with the rest of the matches played in the UAE, where Pakistan plays their "home" international fixtures. The country has not played host to any international cricket against Full Members since the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists in 2009, with the exception of one tour by Zimbabwe, who played two T20s and three ODIs under a stringent security blanket.

Sethi also said that arrangements to induct a sixth franchise were also on track, and as many as 30 national and international parties had expressed an interest in buying the sixth franchise.