PCB likely to hold auction for Multan Sultans ahead of PSL 11: sources

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will auction the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans, following strong valuations seen in the recent sale of two new teams, sources told Geo Super on Sunday.

Last month, the PCB had announced it would assume control of Multan Sultans after the expiration of its ownership agreement on December 31, 2025. 

Under the plan, the board was to operate the franchise for one year before putting it up for sale through an auction in 2027.

If implemented, this arrangement is expected to save the PCB around $4 million in a year, as it would not need to contribute $3 million from the central pool or an additional $1 million in sponsorship funds.

However, an audit report noted that the board would forgo the $8.5 million franchise fee for that year.

In November, Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen announced via social media that he was stepping away from the franchise. Sources indicate that relations between Tareen and the PCB had been strained over the past year, eventually reaching a point of no return.

Multan Sultans were originally awarded as the sixth PSL team to the Schon Group under a $5.2 million agreement, making it the most expensive franchise at the time—double the acquisition cost of Karachi Kings, which was $2.6 million.

The decision to auction the team comes as the PCB secured strong valuations in the recent sale of two new franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, bringing the total number of teams in PSL 11 to eight.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on December 28, confirmed during a media conference that the board will operate Multan Sultans for the upcoming 11th edition of the PSL, scheduled from March 26 to May 3, 2026, before initiating the auction process.

“Multan Sultans will be operated by the PCB this year. Once the PSL concludes, we will carry out the auction and put the franchise up for sale. For this season, the board will run the Sultans,” Naqvi said.

He added that an interim management structure would be appointed soon.

“We will appoint an acting head within the next eight to ten days to oversee the team. A professional cricketer will also be brought in to manage Multan Sultans for this season,” he said.

The PSL, which began in 2016 with five teams and expanded to six in 2018, is set to grow further with the addition of two new franchises for its 11th edition.

The historic auction, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on Thursday, saw FKS Group and OZ Developers secure ownership of the Hyderabad and Sialkot franchises for Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion, respectively.