Multan Sultans out of PSL: Ali Khan Tareen leaves after dispute with PCB, says goodbye to fans
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has undergone a major turning point in its history. Multan Sultans franchise owner Ali Khan Tareen has decided to exit the PSL after a long and acrimonious dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and league management.
Tareen released an emotional farewell note to fans, vowing to stick to her principles.
“No compromise on principles, this is goodbye”
In his message, Tareen clarified that his decision was a matter of principle. He said, “I’ve never learned to play it safe or play it casual… and if staying in the team means compromising these principles, then I have only one option.”
Tareen, known for his outspoken comments, said he would prefer his team to ” lose on their feet” rather than “run on their knees” .
History of constant confrontation with PCB
There has been a constant conflict between 35-year-old Tareen and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) leadership for some time now.
Public mockery: Tareen frequently criticized the PCB’s policies on social media.
Notice and response: When the PCB issued him a show-cause notice demanding a public apology, Tareen escalated the controversy by openly tearing it up, raising serious questions about the PCB’s authority .
Violation of the franchise agreement
The main reason for Tareen’s exit was the PCB’s alleged breach of contract during the renewal process.
According to sources, Multan Sultans was a compliant franchise, but the PCB:
Tareen was not given an extension of his contract.
The valuation done by Ernst & Young was not shared, even though the PCB was contractually bound to share all such relevant information.
A franchise source stressed that the cost of the EY evaluation was borne from PSL funds, to which the Multan Sultans contributed. Therefore, the PCB’s failure to share the report was a direct breach of contract.
Heavy financial investment and losses
Tareen bought the team in 2018 for a whopping $6.3 million per year, making Multan Sultans the most expensive franchise in the PSL.
Total investment: Tareen paid the PCB approximately $44 million (approximately ₹7.2 billion Pakistani rupees) as franchise fees over a seven-year period.
Returns: According to sources, he invested 7.2 billion Pakistani rupees , but only received a return of 1.7 billion Pakistani rupees . Despite the financial losses year after year, Tareen said he never considered leaving the team.
Multan Sultans’ performance and future
Multan Sultans have been one of the most consistent teams in the PSL:
Title: Won the 2021 title.
Finalists: Reached the finals in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Tareen also urged the fans to support the new owner of the team with the same zeal.
PSL expansion plans
The PCB is now preparing to expand the league to eight teams by adding two new franchises. Following the departure of the Multan Sultans, the PCB will now seek three new owners , and the team auction is expected to take place in the first week of January.
