Multan Sultans owner announces exit from PSL
Ali Khan Tareen, the rebellious and maverick owner of the Multan Sultans franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), has ended his long-running fight with the Pakistan Cricket Board and PSL authorities, choosing to exit the league. "Goodbye," he wrote in a message to fans.
"I know I'm not everyone's cup of tea, and I'm okay with that. But I have always been honest and I have always spoken my mind. I never learned how to play it safe or just play along. That simply isn't who I am. And if staying means compromising those principles there is only one choice I can make," he said in an impassioned farewell note to the fans. "I would rather lose this team while standing on my feet than run it from my knees. So, this is goodbye."
Tareen, in his mid-30s, had perennially been at loggerheads with the PSL and PCB leadership, frequently ridiculing their policies in the media and on social platforms. When the PCB served a show-cause notice on him demanding a public apology, he made a big spectacle of it by tearing it up openly, further questioning the authority of the PCB.
When it was time for renewal, the PCB did not grant him an extension nor did it share the valuation carried out by Ernst & Young even though, it is understood, the PCB was contractually obligated to share all relevant information, since his franchise was neither officially suspended nor terminated.
"Since the franchise agreement had neither been suspended nor terminated, Multan Sultans was a compliant franchise. In this background, by not sharing EY reports as well as a fresh offer letter, the PCB was in breach of contract. Also, the cost of the EY valuation exercise was done through the PSL funds, and Multan Sultans had contributed to this exercise," a source said.
On September 12, the PSL served on Tareen a Notice of Charge, which was responded to on October 2. Since then, there apparently has been no communication to him from the PSL management. Tareen saw the writing on the wall.
He requested the fans to back the franchise. "Despite the financial losses year after year, I never once thought about walking away. The Sultans have always meant more to me than just numbers. And I have always been willing to go as far as needed to protect it," he said.
"Please know that this team has always been much more than its owner. It belongs to you and to South Punjab. So whoever takes control of the Sultans next, please keep supporting them with the same passion. You can count on me to be in the stands supporting them too."
UAE-based Schon Group had the initial ownership. After they withdrew in 2018, Tareens bought the team at a whopping $ 6.3 million per year, making Multan Sultans the most expensive franchise in the PSL. In the seven-year period, Tareen is estimated to have paid the PCB approximately $ 44 million in franchise fees. "Overall, he had invested PKR 7.2 billion in the PSL and got a return of only PKR 1.7 billion," said a source.
Multan Sultans were a consistent franchise in the six-team league, winning the 2021 title and reaching the final in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons.
The PCB is preparing to expand the league to eight teams by adding two new franchises. It has announced that the team auction will take place in the first week of January, when it will be seeking three, not two, new owners.
