Multan Sultans ownership race begins; PCB opens bidding

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a key step towards finalising the ownership of Multan Sultans by formally issuing an advertisement inviting bids for the sale of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise.

According to the PCB, interested parties have been invited to submit bids for acquiring the franchise rights of the Multan-based team. The advertisement states that January 30 has been set as the deadline for the submission of documents related to technical proposals. Only bidders who meet the technical criteria will qualify for the next stage of the bidding process.

The move comes as the PCB accelerates plans to transfer ownership of Multan Sultans ahead of the upcoming PSL season, departing from an earlier plan to auction the franchise after the tournament. Sources say the decision to fast-track the sale was influenced by strong investor interest observed during the recent auction process for the newly added Hyderabad and Sialkot franchises.

The future of Multan Sultans is also expected to feature prominently in a virtual meeting of the PSL Governing Council scheduled for January 15. Representatives of all eight PSL franchises will participate in the meeting, which is expected to focus on the league’s expansion strategy, player recruitment policies and long-term commercial growth.

In addition to the sale of Multan Sultans, the governing council is likely to discuss proposals related to direct player signings ahead of PSL 11, revisions to the player retention policy and possible incentives for newly inducted teams. The PCB is also reviewing the existing draft and auction system as part of efforts to build a more competitive and sustainable league structure.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had earlier announced that the board would temporarily manage Multan Sultans to ensure continuity ahead of PSL 11. However, the issuance of the advertisement signals a shift towards completing the sale before the next season, reflecting growing commercial and investor interest in the PSL.

Meanwhile, sources indicate that the players’ draft for the upcoming PSL season is expected to take place on January 30, further underscoring a busy period ahead for league planning and franchise decisions.