Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen remained completely silent during the high-stakes Pakistan Super League (PSL) auction for the franchise, failing to place a single bid to reclaim the team he once led.
Despite being physically present at the venue as one of the five qualified bidders, Tareen’s entity, Deharki Sugar Mills (DSM), did not lift the paddle once.
The base reserve price for the franchise was set at Rs. 182 crore, a figure that seemingly deterred the former owner from entering the fray.
The writing was perhaps on the wall before the auction gavel even fell. In a video message posted to Instagram shortly before the bidding commenced, Tareen had cautioned fans against assuming he would secure the team regardless of the price.
While confirming that he had submitted the necessary paperwork to qualify for the bidding process, Tareen emphasized the need for financial prudence.
“We have submitted our papers, and we are one of the qualified bidders for the team,” Tareen stated in his message. “But I want everyone to have realistic expectations and temper them. It’s not a given that I will go for Multan Sultans at any cost.”
While Tareen sat out, Walee Technologies seized the opportunity. The tech giant, led by Group CEO Muhammad Ahsan Tahir, who recently made headlines for securing the International Media Rights for PSL 11, won the franchise with a record-breaking bid of Rs. 245 crore.
The acquisition marks the end of the Multan Sultans brand. The new owners have already decided to overhaul the franchise identity completely, relocating the team to Rawalpindi with a new name expected to be revealed soon.
Tareen’s strategy of “financial discipline” did not sit well with the fanbase. Following the auction, social media platforms were flooded with memes and criticism, with netizens mocking the former owner for his lack of effort to buy back the franchise despite his presence at the auction table.