PCB to run Multan Sultans franchise for next PSL season

The PCB will run the Multan Sultans franchise by itself for the PSL 2026 season instead of looking for an external buyer. In a press conference, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the board would bring in former cricketers and experts to take over the operation of the franchise for the duration of the 11th season of the league before opening it up to potential buyers after the season.

"As soon as the PSL ends, we will auction the franchise off, and in the next eight to ten days, we will appoint an acting head to run the franchise," Naqvi said.

Naqvi said the franchise could not be sold alongside the two new franchises, which will be publicly auctioned off in Islamabad on January 8, citing rules that require the sale to be announced a certain period of time before the auction. With the PSL starting in late March, he said there was not enough time to secure an independent sale for Sultans in the time that remains.

The previous owner of Sultans Ali Tareen announced last month he was walking away from his ownership of the franchise. The decision came after an increasingly bitter spat between Tareen and the PSL management, whom he had publicly and repeatedly accused of lacking ambition and transparency.

In response, the PCB sent a legal notice that accused him of being non-compliant with his ownership contract, and demanded a retraction and public apology. Tareen responded with a sarcastic "apology" video which ended with him tearing up the notice they had sent.

In the following weeks, Tareen found himself increasingly locked out of discussions in the build-up to the 11th season. He was the only owner not to receive a renewal offer letter. Tareen said last week that Sultans had received no response to any communication from either the PCB chairman or the PSL management, threatening to take legal action.

With Tareen's ownership of the franchise officially concluding on December 31, the PCB faced the prospect of needing to find buyers for three teams rather than two. However, Naqvi appeared to insinuate the door was open for Tareen to buy one of the other two franchises, praising him for "having done a lot of work" on Sultans.

"Unfortunately, what happened was an issue that I don't want to discuss. But we'd absolutely welcome Ali back. If he wants to buy a new team he can bid for it by all means".

The PCB taking direct ownership of a specific franchise is unprecedented in PSL history, and has no obvious parallel in any major T20 league. The shape the organising committee for Sultans takes remains to be seen, with Naqvi saying more details will be available in due course.

The starting date of the PSL may also be revised. Initially slated to run from March 26 to May 3, Naqvi said he was hoping to kick the league off on March 23. The date is a public holiday in Pakistan, named Pakistan Day, and was the date in 1940 when the idea of establishing Pakistan as an independent nation was officially put forward as a political proposal.

Naqvi also said former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has been roped in as PSL brand ambassador. Akram has previously served in coaching and mentorship roles at Islamabad United.

Naqvi also criticised the conduct of India's Under-19 team during the recent Asia Cup final clash in Dubai, which Pakistan Under-19 won by 191 runs. The game was an ill-tempered affair with charged moments from both sides. There were, as has become customary between India and Pakistan matches in recent months, no handshakes.

"If India don't want to shake hands with us, that is not a problem, but whatever happens between the two sides will happen on the basis of equality," Naqvi said.