PSL rift: Ali Tareen claims PCB not responding to Multan Sultans

LAHORE: The dispute between the Multan Sultans franchise and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) administration intensified on Monday after team owner Ali Tareen accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and PSL management of repeatedly ignoring the franchise’s attempts to seek clarity on key contractual matters.

Tareen, in a series of statements, said the franchise had attempted multiple times over the past month to contact PSL officials but received “no response from the PCB”. He claimed that despite consistent efforts, Multan Sultans had not been provided updates on the team’s valuation, nor had they received the renewal or offer letter required for the next commercial cycle.

“We tried to contact PSL management several times in a month, but we have not received any answer,” Tareen said, adding that the franchise also received no reply to a legal letter sent to the league. “Why is Multan not being included in the valuation process? We have not been given any explanation,” he said.

Tareen warned that if the “current attitude” from the PSL administration persisted, the franchise would be left with “no option but to take legal action.”

Tensions have been simmering for months, with Multan Sultans claiming to have repeatedly approached PSL management for clarity on the renewal process. According to sources familiar with the matter, the franchise recently sent yet another formal letter to PSL headquarters demanding the league’s valuation report and an updated offer letter, documents they say are necessary for planning ahead.

Insiders confirm that contracts for all PSL teams, including Multan Sultans, remain valid until December 31, and that no suspension or cancellation of Multan’s agreement has taken place. However, officials familiar with the developments say the PSL administration has withheld issuing a new contract due to what they describe as the franchise’s “non-compliance.”

The standoff worsened after Ali Tareen made repeated public criticisms of the PCB and PSL leadership. Matters escalated further when the PCB issued a legal notice to the franchise, a notice Tareen tore apart on camera in a video that circulated widely on social media.

Despite the heightened tensions, no official termination steps have been taken, and both sides have yet to release formal public statements addressing the latest developments. The deadlock, however, has raised fresh concerns about Multan Sultans’ future participation in the PSL.