Ali Tareen Set to Re-Enter Bid for Multan Sultans Ownership

Ali Tareen could be set for a dramatic return to the Pakistan Super League landscape, with sources indicating the former Multan Sultans owner is preparing to re-enter the race for the South Punjab franchise when ownership rights go under the hammer next month.

After stepping away following PSL 10 due to disagreements with the Pakistan Cricket Board, Tareen is now understood to have completed the formalities required to take part in the upcoming franchise auction, likely scheduled for February 8 or 9. Insiders say his renewed interest centers on reclaiming the Multan-based side he guided to a title in 2021 and helped establish as one of the league’s strongest brands.

His earlier withdrawal from bidding for the two newly introduced PSL teams raised eyebrows, especially after he had qualified for the process. Those franchises were eventually snapped up by corporate groups and later unveiled as Hyderabad and Sialkot outfits. At the time, Tareen publicly explained his decision, stressing that his PSL involvement was driven by regional identity as much as competition.

He wrote that Multan Sultans represented more than ownership, calling it a project tied closely to South Punjab and its recognition within Pakistan’s cricket structure. He also signaled that any comeback would follow the same emotional logic rather than a purely commercial one.

League officials had not originally planned to reopen the Multan Sultans ownership slot this cycle. That stance shifted after record-breaking bids for the expansion teams reset market expectations and encouraged a broader reshuffle ahead of PSL 11.

With paperwork reportedly filed and intent clear, Tareen may soon test the market again, this time to bring Multan back under familiar control.