The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to auction the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans after securing a strong price in the recent auction of two new teams, sources said on Sunday.
The move comes as the current ownership agreement of Multan Sultans expires on December 31, 2025, after which the board had planned to take control of the team.
PSL expansion and a timely sale
Earlier, the PCB intended to run the franchise for one year before selling it in 2027.
That plan could have saved around $4 million, but the board would also lose the annual franchise fee of $8.5 million.
Now, after the successful auction of Hyderabad and Sialkot, which will take the number of teams in PSL 11 to eight, the PCB believes this is the right time to sell Multan Sultans as well.
In November, owner Ali Tareen announced that he was parting ways with the franchise.
Sources say relations between him and the PCB had remained strained for months.
Multan Sultans were first sold to the Schon Group for $5.2 million, making it the most expensive team at the time.
An open bidding process is expected soon, with an official announcement after legal review. The PCB hopes the franchise will fetch a strong price.
