The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent a notice of termination to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans for violating contractual terms.

 

According to media reports, Multan Sultans’ owner Ali Tareen has repeatedly criticised the PSL setup and a senior official through podcasts and social media, questioning the league’s structure. The PCB had remained silent for some time, which led to speculation about why the board was not taking any action. However, it now appears that the board has run out of patience.

 

Reports confirmed that a notice of termination has been sent to the franchise. If the dispute remains unresolved, Multan Sultans could feature in the eleventh edition of the PSL under new ownership.

 

The PCB had hired a foreign company to assess the current market value of franchise rights after the initial ten-year agreements ended. The evaluation process is in its final stages. The board is also reviewing whether all franchises have complied with their contractual obligations before deciding its next course of action.

 

Multan Sultans is the most expensive franchise in the PSL, paying around Rs 1.25 billion annually. The team has faced heavy financial losses each season, and its owners have been demanding structural changes in the league.

 

Under the existing agreement, the PCB cannot reduce the franchise fee for a single team, as doing so could affect the league’s credibility and the sale of two new teams in the future.

 

If the termination becomes final, the current owners of Multan Sultans will not be allowed to bid for any new franchise.

 

Multan Sultans joined the PSL in 2017 as the sixth team of the league. Schon Properties initially purchased the franchise under an eight-year contract, but the PCB terminated the deal a year later due to non-payment of the annual fee.

 

The board temporarily took control of the team’s contracts and later invited new bids for ownership. In December 2018, Alamgir Khan Tareen and Ali Khan Tareen acquired the rights to the team. Alamgir became the sole owner in 2021, and after his death in 2023, Ali Tareen resumed management of the franchise.

 

The eleventh edition of the PSL will not take place on its traditional dates due to the ICC T20 World Cup. The tournament is expected to be held in April or May 2026, which could again clash with the IPL schedule.