The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will manage the Multan Sultans franchise in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season.Speaking at a press conference, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the board would manage the franchise for the upcoming season and appoint former cricketers to manage the operations. The franchise will be offered for sale after the end of the tournament.
“Multan Sultans will be managed by the PCB this year. Once the PSL concludes, we will conduct the auction process and put the franchise up for sale. However, for this season, the board will manage the Sultans,” Naqvi said.He said that a professional cricketer would be appointed to lead the PSL 11 franchise.“To this end, we will appoint an interim leader in the next eight to ten days who will supervise the team. A professional cricketer will be recruited to lead Multan Sultans this season,” he added.The move follows former owner Ali Tareen’s departure from the franchise, which he owned since 2018. Tareen cited financial reasons for stepping down.After his departure, the PCB issued a legal notice to Tareen, accusing him of breaching the ownership agreement and demanding an apology. Tareen later posted a video response in which he offered a sarcastic “apology” and tore up the notice.Furthermore, the auction of two new PSL franchises is scheduled for January 8, 2026, with the participation of 10 bidders.PSL 2026 will begin on March 26 and end on May 3. The revised schedule means the league will overlap with the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the second consecutive year.Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars are the most successful teams in the history of the PSL, with three titles each. Lahore Qalandars are the current champions.
