There has never been a dull moment in Pakistan cricket — and the ongoing clash between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen is another testament to that.
The controversy began when the PCB issued a legal notice to Tareen last month, alleging breach of the franchise agreement. Since then, the dispute has escalated into a public showdown, with both sides trading accusations.
On Sunday, Tareen accused the PSL management of leaking the legal notice to “their favoured media,” claiming that his team had responded to the notice but initially chose to remain silent for the sake of the league’s reputation. “Perhaps they mistook our restraint for weakness,” he said in a post on X, adding that the situation had now reached a breaking point.
In response, the PCB reaffirmed that only franchises in compliance with contractual obligations would be offered renewal under the upcoming 10-year PSL restructuring plan.
The board suspects Tareen of attempting to undermine the league’s market value by criticizing its management, fan experience, and marketing efforts.
Tareen, who became the sole owner of Multan Sultans after his uncle Alamgir Tareen’s passing in 2023, has been vocal about the PCB’s “mediocrity” and lack of innovation. He has reportedly sought political and franchisee intervention to mediate the dispute.
The rift comes at a sensitive time for PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is already engaged in a separate dispute with India’s cricket board over the Asia Cup trophy.
Analysts believe the outcome of this confrontation will test Naqvi’s authority and set a precedent for future relations between the PCB and PSL franchise owners — marking yet another chapter of unpredictability in Pakistan’s cricketing saga.
