Islamabad, December 28, 2025: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will take temporary control of the Multan Sultans franchise for the upcoming 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), scheduled between March and May 2026, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday. The board will operate the team for one season before putting it up for auction 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 added that an interim management structure would be established soon, with an acting head appointed within the next eight to ten days to oversee the team. “A professional cricketer will be brought in to manage Multan Sultans for this season,” he said.
The development follows Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen’s announcement on November 25 that he would not renew the franchise ownership contract, citing repeated financial losses as the primary reason. In a social media statement, Tareen expressed his emotional attachment to the team and its representation of South Punjab, which he said his late uncle, Alamgir Tareen, was especially proud of. “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,” he wrote.
Tareen added, “Despite the financial losses year after year, I never once thought about walking away. I would rather lose this team while standing on my feet than run it from my knees.” His announcement came shortly after the remaining five PSL franchises extended their respective contracts with the PCB for the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, the PCB is also progressing with the league’s planned expansion. The board announced that its Bid Committee completed the technical evaluation of bids for two new PSL franchises, receiving 12 proposals from bidders across five continents. Ten bidders were shortlisted after a three-day evaluation process and will participate in an auction scheduled for January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
The new franchise owners will be able to select their team locations from six shortlisted cities: Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi.
The PSL, which started in 2016 with five teams and expanded to six in 2018, is set to further grow with the addition of two new franchises from its 11th edition, marking continued development and increased competition in the league.
