Multan Sultans owner faces threat of 'blacklist' from PCB

The PCB has threatened to "blacklist" Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen for his criticism of the PSL management unless he makes a public apology, the franchise has said in a statement.

The ownership rights of the teams in the PSL expire in December, a decade after the league began, with the existing owners required to re-bid to keep their teams. A blacklist would prevent Tareen from doing so.

Over the last year, Tareen has been critical of the PSL management for what he feels is a lack of communication or transparency, especially around the rebidding for franchise rights and the entry of two new teams from next season. ESPNcricinfo understands Multan Sultans responded to the PCB rebutting the charges against Tareen.

"The PCB last month sent a legal notice to Multan Sultans, demanding that our owner Ali Tareen retracts all recent critical statements and issues a public apology to the PSL management," the franchise said in a statement. "The notice threatens termination of our franchise agreement and a lifetime blacklist of Mr. Tareen from owning any cricket team in the future."

The statement in defence of Tareen said: "For the PCB management to treat constructive criticism as a crime is outrageous.

"It demonstrates the pettiness of the current management and clearly shows that the PSL is not open to questions or accountability, even from those who have given the most to make it stronger. Silencing honest feedback is not how great leagues are built.

"His commitment to Pakistani cricket is unwavering, and his only goal is to help the PSL reach the level its players and fans deserve."

ESPNcricinfo has reached out to the PCB for a comment.