The journey of Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has officially ended, as the PCB takes over the franchise for the 2026 season. Former owners lost access to all team operations, social media accounts, and the official website, including over 3.5 million followers. The decision followed public disputes and the franchise agreement’s expiration on December 31.
For the upcoming PSL season, the PCB will manage all team operations directly before selling the franchise to new owners. The new owners can retain the “Multan Sultans” name or rebrand the team entirely. Current digital followers include 1.7 million on Facebook, 774,000 on X (Twitter), 576,000 on Instagram, and 506,000 on TikTok.
Read more: PCB eyes former stars for Multan Sultans management
This marks the second time Multan Sultans has lost ownership. Former owner Ali Tareen, who previously walked away with an annual fee of PKR 1.08 billion, is now expected to participate in the bidding for the seventh and eighth PSL teams. Franchise fees for these teams could exceed PKR 1.5 billion, reflecting the league’s growing value.
Sources say the former owners could have retained Multan Sultans for a lower price but were reportedly concerned about PCB restrictions on future bidding. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has welcomed their participation, leaving them in a challenging position for the upcoming auction.
Read more: PCB eyes former stars for Multan Sultans management
The PSL auction on January 8 is expected to attract several major bidders, potentially driving up prices. Some companies may join primarily for social media publicity, spending a modest USD 20,000 to create online buzz, while their USD 200,000 security deposit will be refunded if they do not win the bid.