Ali Tareen has responded following the official confirmation that new owner Sialkot Stallionz have been renamed Multan Sultans after CD Ventures acquired a majority stake ahead of the historic 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from March 26 to May 3.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference attended by Salman Naseer, owner Hamza Majeed and CD Ventures Chairman Gohar Shah.
CD Ventures has acquired a majority stake in the franchise which was originally bought by OZ Developers for Rs 1.85 billion in the PSL auction in January.
Naseer informed that following recent developments, the valuation of the franchise has now increased to Rs 2 billion per annum.
Speaking at a press conference, Gohar Shah confirmed his appointment as CEO of the franchise and expressed his commitment to restore South Punjab’s representation in the league.
Tareen took to social media platform ‘X’ and sought to clarify the nature of her exit, stressing that her decision was amicable even though she had made a deep personal investment of almost a decade.
“After seven years with Multan Sultans, I leave with no regrets. That chapter of my life gave me some proud moments for which I will always be grateful,” Tareen wrote.
The former owner reflected on the most emotional moments of his tenure with the franchise, highlighting the challenges and heartaches he experienced beyond personal accomplishments.
“The only moment that really affected me was when Multan was kicked out of the league. It hurt. Above all. Not what it meant to me, but what it meant to the fans and the people of South Punjab,” he said.
He highlighted the region’s historically under-representation in national sports and the pride the team has instilled in its community, reflecting the Multan Sultans’ wider importance and impact on southern Punjab.
“South Punjab has always been under-represented. Its people are passionate, talented and deserve every platform they can get. Multan Sultans was never a cricket team. It was a symbol of pride for an entire region that had been neglected for so long. We need passionate people who care about the region to fight for representation,” he said.
Reflecting on the change of ownership and the return of ownership to its original city, Tareen expressed his gratitude to the new owner for championing the cause of South Punjab.
“So I want to thank Gohar Shah for fighting for the people of South Punjab and bringing Multan Sultans back to PSL. The city has its team again. South Punjab has its voice again,” he concluded.
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