Multan Sultans say the Pakistan Cricket Board has warned owner Ali Tareen that he could be “black-listed” from all future team ownership unless he publicly withdraws recent criticism of the Pakistan Super League’s administration.
Key facts first.
• Tareen, involved with the Sultans since late-2018, has openly questioned how the PSL is being run.
• Franchise licences run out in December, ten years after the league began. Existing owners will need to bid again if they want to stay in.
• A black-listing would almost certainly stop Tareen taking part in that process.
The franchise revealed the legal notice in a short, rather blunt statement on Wednesday:
“The PCB last month sent a legal notice to Multan Sultans, demanding that our owner Ali Tareen retracts all recent critical statements and issues a public apology to the PSL management. The notice threatens termination of our franchise agreement and a lifetime blacklist of Mr. Tareen from owning any cricket team in the future.”
Tareen’s camp has pushed back, arguing his remarks were well within reason and, frankly, good for the league. As the franchise put it: “For the PCB management to treat constructive criticism as a crime is outrageous. It demonstrates the pettiness of the current management and clearly shows that the PSL is not open to questions or accountability, even from those who have given the most to make it stronger. Silencing honest feedback is not how great leagues are built.”
The statement went on: “His commitment to Pakistani cricket is unwavering, and his only goal is to help the PSL reach the level its players and fans deserve.”
What exactly did he say? Over the past 12 months Tareen has used interviews, X (formerly Twitter) threads and the odd press briefing to grumble about sluggish communication from the board, vague timelines for two proposed expansion teams and the overall lack of financial transparency. None of it was especially fiery, but it was persistent.
Where does this leave things? The PCB has been asked for its side of the story, though it has yet to offer one. Lawyers will pore over the franchise agreement, no doubt. Privately, other owners admit they are watching nervously; most have moaned about similar issues but not in public.
The calendar is tight. Re-bidding is due before Christmas, player retentions sit right behind that, and pre-season camps follow soon after. If the stand-off drags on, Multan risk walking into the auction hall distracted, or worse, locked out entirely.
Nobody benefits from that, least of all the competition itself.
