Multan Sultans owner challenges PCB after receiving legal notice

MULTAN: In a dramatic turn of events, Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen publicly tore up a legal notice issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), asserting that he will not bow to pressure or threats.

In a video message posted on social media, Tareen revealed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) management had issued him a legal notice demanding that he withdraw his critical remarks and issue an apology.

The notice also warned of the termination of his franchise agreement and the possibility of being blacklisted.

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

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— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) October 23, 2025

Tareen stated firmly that he would not remain silent in the face of such threats. “If you think I will be silenced by intimidation, you are mistaken,” he said.

Expressing his deep affection for the PSL, Tareen said, “I love this league — it belongs to the entire nation.” He added that he was willing to sit down and resolve the issues but lamented that the PCB had not made any attempt to contact him. “No one has made a single call or sent an email to understand my concerns,” he remarked.

Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has doubled down in his dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), responding to the board’s legal notice with a sarcastic apology and sharp criticism.

In his latest video message, Tareen mockingly said, “I apologize for demanding the inclusion of competent people in the PSL management. I also apologize for criticizing the draft process, training facilities, and the opening ceremony.”

Earlier, PCB had issued a legal notice to the Multan Sultans franchise, accusing it of violating contractual clauses and running a campaign that damaged the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) reputation.

According to sources, the notice pertains to breaches of the 10-year franchise agreement. If the franchise fails to submit a satisfactory response, the PCB may terminate the contract and blacklist the franchise owners.

Sources further claim that the franchise allegedly launched a negative campaign even before PSL 10, with Tareen making remarks in social media interviews and podcasts that, according to the board, undermined the league’s image. The motive behind the campaign, they added, was to devalue the league ahead of its revaluation process for the next 10-year cycle.