Multan Sultans Archives

Bids roll in for Multan Sultans ahead of PSL 11 auction

LAHORE: The ownerless franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Multan Sultans has received six bids ahead of the auction, the league’s social media handle confirmed on Monday.

The announcement was made via PSL’s social media accounts, revealing the total number of bidders for the franchise auction.

“The numbers are in. Six bids submitted for Multan Sultans,” the caption of the post read.

On 14 January 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally initiated the process to sell the ownership rights of the PSL franchise Multan Sultans, issuing an advertisement inviting interested parties to submit bids for the auction.

The PCB confirmed that bids are being sought for the franchise rights of the 2021 PSL champions. The deadline for submitting documents for the technical proposal was originally set for January 30 and was later moved forward.

The process began after the departure of Multan Sultans’ former owner, Ali Tareen, who announced in November that he was stepping away from the franchise.

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The reason for Tareen’s departure was strained relations with the PCB that had persisted for over a year, ultimately reaching a point of no return.

Subsequently, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced that the board would assume control of the franchise upon expiry of the existing ownership agreement on December 31, 2025.

The initial plan was for the PCB to operate the team for a year before auctioning it in 2027.

However, strong valuations achieved in the recent auction are understood to have encouraged the PCB to proceed with the sale of Multan Sultans earlier than planned.

The landmark auction, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre last month, saw FKS Group and OZ Developers acquire the newly added franchises from Hyderabad and Sialkot for Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion, respectively, expanding the PSL to eight teams from season 11.

For the unversed, the PSL 11 is set to kick off from 26 March with the auction to take place on 11 February.

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Ali Tareen to participate in Multan franchise auction: reports

Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen is reportedly interested in reclaiming the ownership rights of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, sources revealed on Friday.

Tareen, who previously owned the 2021 champions, had opted not to renew the franchise agreement after PSL 10, citing differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

However, insiders now claim that he has decided to participate in the upcoming auction, expected to be held on February 8 or 9, to acquire the South Punjab-based city franchise again.

Sources further revealed that Tareen has already submitted the required documentation to participate in the bidding process.

Notably, Tareen was also among the qualified bidders for the two newly-added PSL franchises earlier this month, but withdrew at the eleventh hour.

The teams were eventually secured by FKS Group and OZ Developers, who later announced their franchises as Hyderabad and Sialkot, respectively.

Following his withdrawal, Tareen took to the social media platform X to explain his decision, while reflecting on what the Multan Sultans meant to him beyond cricket.

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“After careful consideration, my family and I have decided not to participate in today’s PSL franchise auction,” he had written.

“Our time with Multan Sultans was never just about owning a cricket team. It was about South Punjab. About giving a voice to a region that had been overlooked for too long. That’s what drove everything we built,” he added.

Tareen also hinted that any return to the PSL would remain tied to the same emotional connection.

“If I come back to PSL, it has to be for the same reason. South Punjab is where my heart is. It is home. This year, I’ll be in the stands, cheering for the players and celebrating with the fans. And when the Multan team is being sold, we’ll be ready,” he stated.

“Wishing all the bidders the best. May the most outspoken owner win,” he concluded.

Interestingly, the PCB had not initially planned to auction the Multan franchise this year.

However, after the successful sale of the two new teams, which were acquired for record prices, the board has reportedly decided to also auction Multan Sultans’ ownership rights ahead of the landmark PSL 11 season.

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PCB issues advertisement to sell Multan Sultans ahead of PSL 11

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally initiated the process to sell the ownership rights of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans, issuing an advertisement, inviting interested parties to submit their bids for the auction.

The PCB confirmed that bids are being sought for the franchise rights of the 2021 PSL champions. The deadline for submitting documents for the technical proposal has been set for January 30.

Only bidders who meet the technical requirements will advance to the next phase of the bidding process.

The development follows the departure of Multan Sultans’ former owner Ali Tareen, who announced in November that he was stepping away from the franchise.

Sources had indicated that relations between Tareen and the PCB had been strained for over a year, eventually reaching a point of no return.

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Subsequently, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed that the board would take control of the franchise following the expiry of the existing ownership agreement on December 31, 2025.

The initial plan was for the PCB to operate the team for a year before auctioning it in 2027.

However, the timeline appears to have been brought forward after the successful auction of two new PSL franchises.

Strong valuations achieved in the recent auction are understood to have encouraged the PCB to proceed with the sale of Multan Sultans earlier than planned.

The landmark auction, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre, saw FKS Group and OZ Developers acquire the newly added franchises from Hyderabad and Sialkot for Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion, respectively, expanding the PSL to eight teams from season 11.

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PCB plans to sell Multan Sultans ahead of PSL 11: report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) aims to sell Multan Sultans ahead of the start of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, Cricinfo reported on Sunday.

A month earlier, the PCB had said that it would take charge of the franchise for the upcoming season and auction it after the tournament.

“As soon as the PSL ends, we will auction the franchise off, and in the next eight to ten days, we will appoint an acting head to run the franchise,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated.

The decision was taken after the former owner of the Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, decided not to renew the franchise agreement for the next decade.

However, according to the report, the board is considering selling the outfit as soon as possible.

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“The PCB is in active discussions to sell off the franchise as soon as legally possible. The proposal has the support of senior officials at the PCB and the PSL, with a final sign-off required by chairman Mohsin Naqvi,” the report quoted.

The decision is likely to be driven by record bids received during the historic auction for two new franchises — Hyderabad and Sialkot.

Following the conclusion of the auction, Naqvi vowed to run Sultans amid financial speculations.

“I took a challenge, and that is that there were a lot of claims on social media that the team was in losses. So I, and all of the team, decided that we will show you how much profit this business offers, publish the numbers before going for the auction,” Naqvi stated.

“The pressure has started to be built up on me to sell out the team,” he said in a light-hearted manner while referring to Naseer.

It is worth noting that Sultans were first acquired by the Dubai-based Schon Group in 2017 under an eight-year contract worth $5.2 million.

However, the deal was terminated after a year due to the franchisee’s inability to meet its financial obligations under the agreement.

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PCB chief Naqvi aims to run Multan Sultans profitably amid speculation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed confidence in Multan Sultans’ financial prospects, stating that he wants to run the outfit for at least a year to prove it is a profitable venture.

Earlier today, PSL officially expanded ahead of season 11 in a historic auction, with Hyderabad and Sialkot confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.

The two teams will make their debut in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises: Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, and Multan Sultans.

However, Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen decided to sit out the auction for two new PSL franchises.

Tareen, whose group was notably absent from the list of 10 qualified bidders, took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the move, emphasizing the emotional connection his family shared with the Multan Sultans franchise.

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“After careful consideration, my family and I have decided not to participate in today’s PSL franchise auction,” Tareen wrote.

Speaking at a press conference alongside the new team owners after the auction, Mohsin reflected on the challenge of managing Multan Sultans.

He hinted at skepticism about the team’s finances, noting that management aimed to demonstrate the league’s commercial potential ahead of the auction.

Naqvi added that while there is external pressure and speculation about the future of the team, his focus remains on running the Sultans for at least a year and proving that it can be a profitable venture.

“The pressure has started to be built up on me to sell out the team,” he said in a light-hearted manner while referring to Naseer.

“But my wish is to operate Multan Sultans for one year, and I’m very much hopeful that we would leave it in profit so the world gets to know that it’s a plus-plus business.”

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PCB to take control of Multan Sultans for PSL 11

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Sunday to take over control of the Multan Sultans for the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Naqvi, at a press conference, revealed the decision, noting that the auction of the outfit will be held following the conclusion of PSL 11.

“Multan Sultans will be operated by the PCB this year. Once the PSL concludes, we will carry out the auction process and put the franchise up for sale. However, for this season, the board will run the Sultans,” Naqvi said.

He shed light on the decision and stated that a professional cricketer will take charge of the Sultans for PSL 11.

“For this purpose, we will appoint an acting head within the next eight to ten days who will oversee the team. A professional cricketer will be brought in to manage Multan Sultans for this season,” he continued.

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For those unaware, this comes after Sultan’s former owner, Ali Tareen, said goodbye to the franchise he owned in 2018. Tareen cited finances as a reason for parting ways with the team.

Meanwhile, the auction of the two new outfits is set for 8 January 2026, with 10 bidders gearing up to compete for the teams.

A day earlier, PCB completed the technical Evaluation of the proposal submitted by bidders for the sale of two new PSL outfits.

“A total of 12 proposals were received from interested parties within the stipulated deadline from across the globe and were scrutinised by the PCB Bid Committee over the last three days,” the board had said in a press release.

“Following a thorough and transparent evaluation process, the PCB Bid Committee has qualified 10 Bidders who have successfully met the technical criteria and now enter the second stage,” it added.

The Pakistan Super League, which began in 2016 with five outfits, is set to expand with the addition of two new teams.

Notably, the league expanded to five teams in 2018 with the addition of Multan Sultans. With the addition of two new franchises, the league will undergo its first major restructuring in seven years, taking the total to eight teams.

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Ali Tareen decides not to renew Multan Sultans’ PSL franchise rights

Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has decided not to renew the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise rights for the next decade.

The announcement came via Tareen’s social media account, where he shed light on the decision.

“Being part of this team has been one of the greatest honours of my life. I love the fans, I love this team, and I absolutely love being able to represent South Punjab. Something my late uncle Alamgir Tareen was especially proud of,” he said.

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A post shared by Ali Khan Tareen (@aslitareen)

“Every season, I would tell our players and staff what it means to represent this region: a place full of people who work hard, fight for their rights, and push through challenges every single day,” he continued.

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“I would rather lose this team while standing on my feet than run it from my knees. So, this is goodbye,” Tareen concluded.

For the unversed, this comes after all five other outfits of PSL officially confirmed that they had extended their ownership rights for the next 10 years.

All five teams of the tournament—Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Quetta Gladiators following a successful evaluation under the updated market valuation determined by Ernst & Young, one of the world’s most credible and respected audit and advisory firms, as per PCB.

Ali Tareen’s departure stems from a rift between PCB and Multan Sultans. The board had accused Tareen of breaching several clauses of the 10-year contract and demanded a public apology and retraction of his statements.

A month earlier, Ali Tareen responded with a sarcastic apology video, criticising the board’s management and communication approach.

Notably, he also wrote a letter to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, acknowledging the tensions and proposing structural reforms.

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Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen proposes reforms to take PSL to next level

LAHORE: Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen have submitted a proposal to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to strengthen the tournament through better governance, transparency, and partnerships.

This comes after the rift between PCB and Multan Sultans. The board had accused Tareen of breaching several clauses of the 10-year contract and demanded a public apology and retraction of his statements.

Following the PCB notice, Ali Tareen responded with a sarcastic apology video, criticising the board’s management and communication approach.

Now, Tareen has written a letter to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, acknowledging the recent tensions and aiming to rebuild trust through structural reforms.

Tareen reasserted the franchise’s long-standing commitment to the league and highlighted the concerns regarding ad hoc decision-making.

He further stressed the need for better management experience and called for institutional processes and accountability.

Among the four key reforms are franchise representation on PSL committees and working groups. Moreover, the letter also mentions Formal inclusion of every franchise so policies reflect the league’s collective experience across scheduling, recruitment, ticketing, marketing, and match-day operations.

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The proposal also notes the need to establish a structured approach for franchises to add value to each part of the PSL’s planning and implementation.

Ali Tareen also urged the board to look at franchise participation in defining roles, vetting candidates, and providing input prior to selection to improve merit-based recruitment and professional standards.

“The PSL can attract top regional talent and should not rely primarily on current or former PCB employees,” the letter read.

“A clear organizational chart with defined departments for operations, marketing, fan engagement, player affairs, and finance, led by a qualified executive team,” it added.

Tareen also emphasized monthly meetings in the proposal to increase mutual collaboration.

“Monthly meetings on fixed dates with agendas circulated in advance, minutes recorded and shared, and action points tracked across finances, operations, marketing, ticketing, player affairs, and fan engagement. This will increase accountability and collaboration.”

The franchise aimed to take PSL to the next level by aligning with all stakeholders.

“The proposal emphasizes partnership over control and aligns all stakeholders around the shared goal of building a globally respected league for Pakistan and its fans.

After a successful decade, Multan Sultans feel it is time to take the PSL to the next level,” it concluded.

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PCB draws up backup plan amid rift with Multan Sultans ownership: reports

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly created a backup plan for the potential termination of the Multan Sultans franchise due to ongoing tensions with the franchise owner, Ali Tareen.

According to sources, the PCB has initiated contact with one to two potential investors who have expressed interest in acquiring the Multan Sultans franchise, should the current ownership situation deteriorate further.

“If matters are not settled with the existing management, the franchise could be sold to a new owner,” insiders revealed.

The board, however, is reported to be moving forward with great deliberation.

Officials have stressed that no action will be taken near the league’s valuation process, as the PCB wants to avoid any disruption that could affect the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) credibility.

Relations between the PCB and the Multan Sultans management have reportedly soured over several issues in recent months.

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The latest flashpoint came when the board issued a legal notice to Ali Tareen for allegedly violating the PSL code of conduct and franchise agreement.

The notice warned of potential termination of the franchise and blacklisting of Tareen from future league involvement.

In response, Tareen released a sarcastic “apology” video on his social media platforms, mocking the PCB’s handling of the situation while publicly tearing up the legal notice.

“I didn’t receive a single call, message, or invitation to resolve this matter,” Tareen said in the video. “Instead, I was served a legal notice. If you were more competent, you’d know these matters aren’t handled this way.”

Although Tareen’s video was framed as an apology, it was filled with biting irony. The video concluded dramatically with Tareen tearing the legal notice in half, stating, “So, I hope you like my apology video.”

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PCB issues termination notice to Multan Sultans

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a termination notice to Pakistan Super League (PSL) team Multan Sultans, with the contents of the notice now surfacing, sources revealed to ARY News on Thursday.

According to the sources, the franchise faces the risk of termination from the PSL if it fails to provide a satisfactory response to the notice within the given timeframe.

The notice reportedly accuses Multan Sultans of repeatedly violating contractual obligations and damaging the reputation of the PSL.

Serious allegations include claims that the team’s owner encouraged aggressive play, even announcing a $1,000 reward for hitting an opposing player’s helmet with a ball — a video of which is said to be circulating on social media.

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PCB sources stated that Multan Sultans allegedly used delaying tactics in the PSL valuation process, failed to provide input during official meetings, and caused reputational harm to the league through social media activity.

As per the PSL contract, no franchise is allowed to take actions that could harm the league’s image or credibility, the notice reportedly reminds the team.

Meanwhile, sources said the valuation process of the PSL, which saw a record 3.4 billion views during Season 10, is expected to be completed within the current week.

The bidding and inclusion process for new teams is also likely to be finalized by December, with two additional franchises expected to join PSL Season 11.

Meanwhile, Multan Sultans, in its defence, described the PCB’s actions as an attempt to silence constructive criticism.

“Every statement he has made has been in the best interest of the PSL, urging the league to aim higher and do better,” the team said in a statement, calling the notice “outrageous” and reflective of “pettiness within the current management.”

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