PCB Takes Over Multan Sultans: Owner-Less PSL Franchise Sparks Sale Speculation

PSL: PCB to run owner-less Multan Sultans; sale planned after season

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is facing one of its most significant franchise shake-ups yet. The **Multan Sultans**—one of the league’s most consistent and popular teams—will compete in the upcoming 2026 season without a private owner. Instead, the **Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)** has stepped in to directly manage the franchise, confirming that a formal **Multan Sultans sale** process will begin only after the season concludes .

This unprecedented move raises urgent questions about financial stability, team morale, and the long-term viability of PSL’s franchise model. For fans who have passionately backed the Sultans since their 2018 debut—cheering them to a championship in 2021—the uncertainty is deeply unsettling. How did one of PSL’s flagship teams end up in PCB custody? And who might buy it next?

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Why Did Multan Sultans Lose Their Owner?

The original ownership group, led by Malaysian businessman Alamgir Tareen, faced mounting financial and legal pressures over the past two years. Tareen, son of late politician Jahangir Tareen, had invested heavily in the franchise since acquiring it in 2017.

However, multiple sources indicate that the ownership consortium encountered severe liquidity issues, exacerbated by:

  • Unpaid dues to international players and support staff from the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
  • Audit discrepancies flagged by PCB’s finance committee.
  • Ongoing legal battles involving Tareen family assets in Pakistan’s anti-corruption courts .

By late 2025, the consortium formally relinquished control, citing “inability to meet ongoing operational and contractual obligations.” The PCB, to avoid disruption to the PSL calendar, immediately activated its contingency clause to assume temporary stewardship.

What the PCB Takeover Means for the Team

For the 2026 PSL season, the Multan Sultans will operate as a PCB-managed entity. This means:

  • All player contracts, coaching staff salaries, and travel logistics will be funded directly by the board.
  • Team branding, including the iconic maroon jersey and lion logo, will remain unchanged to maintain fan loyalty.
  • Match-day revenues (tickets, merchandise) will go into a dedicated trust account, not to private owners.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan and star players like Usman Khan have been assured of full support, but insiders admit morale is “fragile.” As one player confided anonymously, “You play with your heart for a team—but it’s hard when you don’t know who’s really behind you” .

[INTERNAL_LINK:psl-franchise-history] This isn’t the first PSL ownership crisis—but it’s the first time the PCB has fully absorbed a major franchise mid-cycle.

The Planned Multan Sultans sale: Timeline and Expectations

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed in a press briefing that a transparent, competitive bidding process for the **Multan Sultans sale** will commence in **June 2026**, immediately after the PSL season ends .

Key details of the sale plan include:

  • Minimum Bid Floor: Estimated at $25–30 million, based on current franchise valuations.
  • Eligibility Criteria: Bidders must prove net worth of at least $100 million and pass a PCB integrity check.
  • Local Preference: Pakistani business groups will be given priority, though international investors aren’t excluded.

The PCB aims to finalize a new owner by August 2026 to ensure stability ahead of PSL 2027.

Is the PSL Franchise Model in Trouble?

The Multan Sultans saga has reignited debate about the sustainability of PSL’s private ownership structure. Unlike the IPL—where franchises are backed by billionaires and corporate giants—PSL teams have often relied on mid-tier businessmen with volatile finances.

Consider these red flags:

  • **Quetta Gladiators** underwent ownership changes in 2022 after financial defaults.
  • **Lahore Qalandars**, though stable now, nearly folded in 2019 before the Qatari royal-backed ARY Group stepped in.
  • Only **Karachi Kings** and **Islamabad United** have maintained consistent ownership since inception.

Experts warn that without deeper institutional backing or league-wide revenue sharing, more franchises could face similar crises. “PSL needs a sovereign wealth fund or league-owned teams as a safety net,” suggests sports economist Dr. Ayesha Malik .

Who Could Buy Multan Sultans Next?

Despite the uncertainty, interest in the **Multan Sultans sale** is already simmering. Potential bidders include:

1. Multan-Based Business Conglomerates

Local industrialists—particularly from the textile and agricultural sectors—see owning the Sultans as a civic duty and marketing goldmine.

2. Gulf Investors

Following the success of Middle Eastern ownership in other leagues (e.g., Manchester City, Kolkata Knight Riders), Qatari and UAE-based sports investment firms are reportedly monitoring the situation.

3. Tech & Media Giants

Pakistani digital platforms like NetTV or private equity arms of telecom companies (e.g., Jazz, Zong) may see the franchise as a content and engagement engine.

For global context on sports franchise valuations, see the annual report from [EXTERNAL_LINK:https://www.deloitte.com/].

Conclusion: A Crossroads for Pakistan’s T20 Future

The **Multan Sultans sale** isn’t just about one team—it’s a stress test for the entire PSL ecosystem. Can Pakistan’s premier cricket league mature into a financially resilient, globally competitive T20 property? Or will it remain vulnerable to the fortunes of individual owners?

The PCB’s emergency stewardship buys time, but the real solution lies in systemic reform: better due diligence, shared revenue models, and perhaps even partial league ownership. For now, Sultans fans will watch their heroes play under a temporary banner—hoping that come 2027, their team has not just a new owner, but a secure future.

Sources

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