Tension between Multan Sultans and the Pakistan Cricket Board intensified on Wednesday as franchise owner Ali Khan Tareen publicly warned that legal action may be taken if the board continues to withhold the team’s valuation and renewal letter. The rift, which began surfacing more visibly last month, deepened as Tareen once again turned to his social media platform to express frustration over what he described as complete silence from the PSL administration. The dispute centers on valuation transparency and renewal documentation that, according to Tareen, every other PSL franchise has already received.
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Last month, the relationship between the two parties became strained when Tareen accused the PSL management of selective leaks, mismanagement and withholding crucial financial details. The criticism followed PSL’s announcement introducing two new franchises, a development that required updated valuations of existing teams and commercial assets. While the independent valuation process was reportedly completed, Multan Sultans claim they have been left out of the communication loop entirely. Tareen stated that multiple emails had been sent requesting the valuation and renewal letter, but all attempts have gone unanswered. He emphasized that there was no response to legal correspondence either, nor to a letter addressed directly to the PCB chairman, deepening the sense of exclusion.
Tareen added that even other franchise representatives questioned why Multan Sultans were being sidelined from a process they should naturally be part of. The absence of transparency has fuelled speculation and concern within the league’s stakeholder community. Tareen explained that the issue is being discussed publicly because private communication channels have been shut down. He argued that the situation did not require conflict and could have been resolved easily if PSL management had responded in good faith. He described the lack of communication as unnecessary and said fragile egos have complicated what could have been handled informally and quickly.
Despite his frustration, Tareen clarified that legal action would be the last resort and not the preferred route. However, he stated that continued neglect would leave the franchise with no choice but to pursue formal measures to protect its operational and financial interests. In his view, the dispute is avoidable and harmful not only to Multan Sultans but to the overall credibility and governance of the league.
In response to concerns over valuations, the PCB recently said that renewal offer letters reflecting new fees for the next decade were formally issued to all compliant PSL franchises. The board added that group and individual meetings were arranged between teams and the independent evaluator, EY MENA, to ensure transparency and to address queries about valuation methods. According to the PCB, the process was open, structured and designed to provide clarity for all stakeholders. However, Multan Sultans maintain that they have not received the documents or invitations that other franchises have reportedly received.
Efforts to ease tensions were made earlier when Tareen submitted a proposal focused on improving PSL governance, transparency and partnership models. The intention was to strengthen the league through collaborative measures, but those efforts appear to have been overshadowed by ongoing communication breakdowns.
As the situation stands, uncertainty looms over the franchise’s next steps. The standoff highlights broader concerns around governance within Pakistan’s premier cricket league and raises questions about consistency and openness in the PCB’s dealings with its franchises. Whether the dispute will be resolved through dialogue or escalate toward legal proceedings now depends on whether the board chooses to respond.
