PSL vs Multan Sultans: The ongoing tension between Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Multan Sultans’ owner Ali Tareen has taken a dramatic turn. Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent Tareen a legal notice, warning that failure to publicly retract and apologize for his critical comments about the league could result in his franchise contract being terminated.
Tareen, a member of a prominent business and political family, had repeatedly voiced concerns about the way the PSL is being managed. On social media and in podcasts, he questioned the league’s success claims, even suggesting that the PSL has dropped to the fifth or sixth rank among global T20 leagues due to poor management.
Instead of backing down after receiving the notice, Tareen responded with a bold video that quickly went viral. In the clip, he sarcastically performs the act of apologizing while simultaneously mocking PCB officials and the league’s management. He ends the video by tearing up the notice, signaling that he will not submit to the board’s pressure.
The PSL Management has sent me a notice threatening to cancel Multan Sultans unless I offer them a public apology. Hazir Saeen. pic.twitter.com/yHWCcClXaD
— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) October 23, 2025
The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many supporting Tareen’s stance. Legal experts suggest that this could result in a prolonged legal battle between Tareen and the PCB.
Sources indicate that Tareen’s criticisms may have been timed with the PSL completing its 10th year, potentially aiming to influence its valuation for the next decade. The PCB reportedly issued the notice because Tareen had breached certain clauses in his franchise agreement.
Tareen owns the Multan Sultans, which is considered the most expensive PSL franchise, paying an annual fee of USD 6.35 million to the PCB, the highest among the six teams. According to him, the franchise has invested roughly 7 billion PKR in PSL-related cricket activities.
The clash underscores the growing tension between franchise owners and the PCB as the league continues to expand, raising questions about governance, accountability, and the future direction of the PSL.