ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans has scheduled the upcoming 11th edition of the tournament in the March-May window.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement during a media conference, confirming that the board will run the franchise for one season before starting the bidding process after the end of PSL 11.
“Multan Sultans will be run by the PCB this year. Once the PSL is over, we will go through the bidding process and put the franchise up for sale. However, this season, the board will run the Sultans,” Naqvi said.
He further informed that an interim administrative structure will be established soon.
“For this purpose, we will appoint an acting chairman in the next eight to ten days who will oversee the team. A professional cricketer will be roped in to manage Multan Sultans for this season,” he added.
The development comes after Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen announced on November 25 that he would not extend the franchise’s contract.
In a detailed statement shared on social media, Tareen cited repeated financial losses as the reason behind his decision.
Before confirming that the 2021 PSL champions would not be renewing their contract, Tareen wrote, “Despite financial losses year after year, I have never thought of walking away. Sultans have always meant more to me than numbers.”
“I’d rather lose this team on my feet than run off my knees,” he added.
Tareen expressed her emotional connection and representation of the South Punjab region, which she said her late uncle Alamgir Tareen was particularly proud of.
“Being a part of this team is one of the biggest honors of my life. I love the fans, I love this team and I absolutely love representing South Punjab,” he said.
Notably, Tareen’s announcement came minutes after the remaining five PSL franchises extended their respective contracts with the PCB for the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, the PCB has also made progress on the planned expansion of the league.
On Saturday, the board announced that its bidding committee had completed the technical evaluation process for bids submitted by interested parties to acquire ownership rights for the two new PSL franchises.
According to the PCB, 12 projects were received from bidders across five continents. After a three-day evaluation process, 10 bidders were selected to meet the technical criteria and qualify for the second phase.
“The PCB Bidding Committee has successfully completed the technical evaluation of the proposals submitted by the bidders for the sale of the two new HBL PSL franchise teams,” the board said in an official statement.
The shortlisted bidders will now participate in the auction to be held on January 8 at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad.
They will have the option to select their franchisee names from six listed cities namely Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gilgit and Rawalpindi.
The PSL, which started with five teams in 2016 and expanded to six in 2018, is poised for further growth with the addition of two new franchises from the 11th edition next year.