PCB announces auction for Multan Sultans ahead of 2026 PSL season
The Pakistan Cricket Board has formally placed Multan Sultans up for auction, inviting bids for the team’s franchise rights just over two months before the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season kicks off on March 26. The move was made official via a public tender posted on the league’s social media platforms.
“Pakistan Cricket Board invites bids for the Team Franchise Rights of the Multan Team for HBL Pakistan Super League 2026,” the PSL’s official X (formerly Twitter) account posted, confirming the shift.
Pakistan Cricket Board invites bids for the Team Franchise Rights of the Multan Team for HBL Pakistan Super League 2026.
📍 Technical Proposal Deadline: 30 January 2026, 3:00 PM
📩 [email protected]#HBLPSL | #NewEra pic.twitter.com/2qv9fLiCJl— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) January 14, 2026
Bidders are required to submit technical proposals by January 30, 2026, to be considered for ownership.
This announcement marks a reversal from the board’s earlier position. As recently as last month, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had stated that the board would temporarily manage Multan Sultans in-house for the upcoming season. The franchise was notably excluded from the high-profile sale of two new teams — Hyderabad and Sialkot — which took place last week in Islamabad.
New franchise sales spark confidence in timing
The unexpected decision to auction Multan Sultans now appears to be driven by the success of the recent expansion team sales. Hyderabad and Sialkot fetched PKR 1.75 billion (approx. US$ 6.25 million) and PKR 1.85 billion (approx. US$ 6.6 million) respectively — figures that far exceeded internal projections and more than tripled the valuation of existing teams like Lahore Qalandars.
According to ESPNcricinfo’s report earlier in the week, senior officials at both the PCB and the PSL supported the decision to auction Multan Sultans, with the final approval dependent on Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The Multan Sultans’ established presence in the league — having played in eight seasons and winning the championship in 2021 — is expected to make the franchise even more valuable than the two newly minted teams. PCB and PSL officials believe the current market conditions could yield a record-breaking sale.
i2c among early contenders as high bidding expected
Several high-profile entities were involved in the bidding process for the new franchises but exited as prices escalated. One such firm was i2c, a financial technology company, which reportedly bid up to PKR 1.82 billion (approx. US$ 6.5 million) before being outbid.
With the Sultans now up for grabs, i2c is expected to be a major player if it chooses to re-enter the fray.
The previous owner of Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, exited the franchise in late 2025 after a seven-year run. His departure followed unresolved disagreements with PSL management and other team owners. Tareen has long expressed a personal connection to the team, once describing it as a matter of pride rather than profit.
Reacting to the news of the sale, Tareen posted his own sardonic comment on X and Instagram: “When you find out your ex is getting remarried.”
When you find out your ex is getting remarried #PSLNewEra pic.twitter.com/gL00wQQx10
— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) January 14, 2026
Unresolved ownership stalls PSL draft preparations
The sale of Multan Sultans is just one of several unresolved issues as the PSL prepares for its 11th season. The league has not yet finalized a date for its player draft, with the uncertainty around Sultans’ ownership delaying squad decisions across the competition.
Adding to the complexity, the inclusion of two new teams has led to disputes among existing franchises over player retention rules. The PSL is also reportedly considering a switch from the traditional draft system to an auction model — at least for marquee player categories.
All these issues, including the Sultans’ ownership process, are expected to be addressed at the upcoming PSL General Council meeting, which has been rescheduled for Friday instead of Thursday, January 15.
For now, the clock is ticking toward January 30, the deadline that could reshape the landscape of the PSL yet again — with Multan Sultans at the center of the league’s most closely watched sale.
