Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has announced that he will not renew his Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise contract.
In a detailed statement shared on social media, Tareen said the decision marked a difficult but necessary conclusion to his involvement with the team.
He said the franchise gave him pride as it represented resilient, hardworking South Punjab and its unbreakable community spirit.
The Multan Sultans owner added that his late uncle, Alamgir Tareen, regarded the team as one of his greatest passions.
Tareen reminded players and staff about representing South Punjab, stressing that supporters value effort and commitment more than results.
He noted that financial losses had never discouraged him from continuing, but compromising his principles would have.
He said he would rather “lose the team while standing on my feet” than remain involved under conditions he viewed as restrictive or unfair.
His announcement followed five PSL franchises extending contracts, highlighting Multan Sultans’ decision to step away at a crucial stage.
The exit ofTareen follows months of friction with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the PSL management.
Read More: ICC Releases Schedule for T20 World Cup 2026
The disagreement escalated earlier this year when he criticised the handling of the draft venue for PSL 10 and questioned the choice of artist selected for the tournament’s anthem.
He later suggested that he might consider rebidding for the team after the landmark edition rather than renewing the existing agreement.
The tension intensified when the PCB issued a notice to the franchise, accusing it of breaching multiple contractual clauses.
Reports indicated that the Sultans risked having their contract revoked if they failed to respond satisfactorily, while Tareen himself faced the possibility of being blacklisted.
The franchise later claimed that the board had demanded a public apology from Tareen and a complete withdrawal of recent critical remarks.
The owner responded with a pointedly sarcastic video, which ended with him tearing up the legal notice after delivering a seemingly compliant “apology.”
In his farewell message, Tareen urged supporters to continue backing the team regardless of future ownership.
He said that Multan Sultans belonged to the people of South Punjab, adding that he would remain in the stands as a fan even after stepping away from the boardroom.
