The Pakistan Cricket Board will run Multan Sultans itself during next year’s Pakistan Super League, delaying a permanent sale until after the tournament.
PCB chair Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the temporary move on Saturday, outlining a plan to install a stop-gap management team of former players and administrators in the coming days. “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,” Naqvi said.
Why the hurry?
League rules demand that any new ownership be advertised well before an auction. With the 11th PSL scheduled to begin in late March, the board decided there simply was no time to complete a conventional sale. Two brand-new teams will still be auctioned in Islamabad on 8 January; Multan will join that market after the season.
What happened to the old owner?
Businessman Ali Tareen walked away last month after a long, increasingly public disagreement with league officials over governance and ambition. The dispute escalated when the PCB served him a legal notice, accusing him of breaching his ownership contract and asking for a retraction. Tareen replied with a tongue-in-cheek video apology, theatrically ripping up the letter.
Relations never recovered. He was the only owner not offered a renewal and, by mid-December, had been frozen out of pre-season meetings. Tareen has hinted at taking legal action, though nothing formal has landed yet.
Could Tareen return in another guise?
Naqvi did not close the door. “Unfortunately, what happened was an issue that I don’t want to discuss. But we’d absolutely welcome Ali back. If he wants to buy a new team he can bid for it by all means,” the chair said, adding that Tareen had “done a lot of work” with Multan. Whether that olive branch is accepted remains to be seen; sources close to the former owner say trust is low.
An unprecedented step
No other major T20 league has a governing board running a single franchise, at least not openly. The PCB must now assemble an ad-hoc committee to handle player contracts, sponsorships and day-to-day logistics. Insiders say former internationals will front the project, giving the side some immediate cricketing credibility. Exact names will surface “in due course,” according to Naqvi.
Calendar tweak on the cards
The board is also exploring a modest shift in the fixture list. Originally pencilled in for 26 March to 3 May, the competition could now start on 23 March – Pakistan Day, a national holiday marking the 1940 resolution that led to independence. Moving forward three days might feel minor, yet broadcasters favour the guaranteed TV audience that comes with a day off work.
Marketing muscle
In a related announcement, pace legend Wasim Akram has signed on as brand ambassador. The former captain has dipped in and out of coaching and commentary since retirement; his profile should help offset any negative noise around Multan’s ownership wrangle.
What’s next for the Sultans?
For the players, very little changes in the short term. Retentions were already filed and the player draft is still on course for mid-January. Salaries are ring-fenced by the league’s central payment system, so contracts remain secure.
Behind the scenes, though, plenty needs sorting: travel plans, sponsorship renewals, kit design, ticketing. Even the choice of home venue – Multan Cricket Stadium or a neutral ground – is not locked in. The new committee, once named, will have roughly ten weeks to stitch those pieces together.
Early reaction
Several current PSL captains contacted for comment welcomed the clarity. One senior player said the board had “done the sensible thing” by protecting the team’s place in the league, though he admitted privately that “nobody likes uncertainty this close to a season”.
Business analysts argue the decision buys the PCB time to maximise the sale price. A clean season, free of rancour, should make Multan a more attractive prospect when the hammer eventually falls.
The bottom line
A temporary, board-run franchise is not ideal, yet it keeps the six-team format intact and avoids a messy pre-season auction. If the new committee can deliver a smooth campaign – and if the cricket on the field holds centre stage – the Sultans should fetch a healthy price come April. For now, the league rolls on, albeit with one unusual twist.
