The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that it will put the Multan Sultans franchise up for auction ahead of the 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 11).
Potential buyers have been invited to submit bids for the franchise rights. The move comes after the PCB decided to temporarily assume control of Multan Sultans following the departure of former owner Ali Tareen, who chose not to extend his ownership agreement, bringing his seven-year involvement with the team to an end.
Tareen had earlier explained that his decision to step away was due to disagreements with PSL management and other franchise owners. He described Multan Sultans as a source of personal pride and stressed that his exit was based on principles rather than financial considerations.
To avoid disruption ahead of PSL 11, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had confirmed that the board would manage the franchise on a temporary basis. While the PCB initially planned to auction the team after the upcoming season, the latest development suggests the board has opted to proceed with the sale sooner than expected.
Meanwhile, the PCB has already sold two additional franchises as part of its expansion plan, increasing the number of teams in PSL 11 to eight, with Hyderabad and Sialkot set to join the competition. The players’ draft for the new season is scheduled to be held on January 30.