For a franchise without an owner, the Multan Sultans are suddenly worth more than ever. That’s the delicious irony at the heart of the PCB’s late pivot: just weeks before PSL 11 begins on March 26, the league has decided to auction one of its most stable, successful teams.
After briefly flirting with the idea of running Multan in-house, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has greenlit a tender process, with technical proposals due by January 30. The urgency isn’t accidental. PSL economics have shifted dramatically after Hyderabad and Sialkot sold for PKR 1.75 billion and PKR 1.85 billion, nearly triple the valuation of Lahore Qalandars, previously the league’s gold standard.
Multan isn’t a risky expansion punt. Eight seasons, one title (2021), multiple finals, and a ready-made fanbase. The mystery isn’t why they’re being sold, it’s why now, and what this decision reveals about the PSL’s evolving power structure.
Market Momentum Over Strategic Calm
The PCB’s reversal isn’t ideological; it’s opportunistic. Running Multan internally may have offered short-term stability, but the PSL’s leadership read the auction room in Islamabad and saw something irresistible: irrationally high confidence. When expansion teams start selling at record prices, established assets suddenly look undervalued. In sports leagues worldwide, this is the classic “sell at peak optimism” moment, and the PCB is playing that card.
Why Multan Is Not Just Another Franchise
Multan Sultans have a proven track record, similar to Sialkot or Hyderabad, in the sense that they have demonstrated success as well as a good amount of history. This is eight seasons with an almost annual appearance in the playoffs and an actual championship win in 2021. Therefore, this has helped to lower the overall risk factor associated with Multan Sultans and, at the same time, increase their overall premium value. As such, franchises are willing to pay more for a franchise that has shown consistency over multiple years; thus, Multan has a level of operational continuity and credibility that new expansion franchises do not have.
The i2c Factor and Bidding Psychology
One name looms large over this auction: i2c. Having pushed their bid up to PKR 1.82 billion before losing out previously, they now enter familiar territory with fewer unknowns. Add Ali Tareen’s stated intention to return after withdrawing late from the last auction, and the stage is set for a bidding duel driven as much by ego as economics. Auctions don’t reward restraint; they reward conviction.
Ownership Uncertainty Is Hurting the League
Here’s the catch: until Multan’s ownership is resolved, the PSL is stuck in administrative limbo. No draft date. No clarity on retention rules after expansion. Even whispers of shifting from a draft to an auction model for elite players can’t be finalized. The Sultans’ sale isn’t just a transaction; it’s the keystone holding PSL 11’s entire planning structure together.
The sale should land and complete on time to make Multan the highest-priced franchise in the PSL and establish the new valuation cap for the PSL. However, if the process continues to be delayed, it will cast a cloud over what is expected to be an ambitious season for the PSL. Growth can be exciting, but only with a solid foundation.
Key Takeaway
Multan Sultans aren’t being sold because they’re unstable; they’re being sold because the market has lost its patience for restraint.
FAQs
- What prompted the PCB to auction the Multan Sultans now?
Record-breaking franchise sales created an ideal seller’s market.
- Why are Multan Sultans more valuable than new teams?
They offer proven performance, fanbase stability, and lower operational risk.
- How does this affect PSL 11 planning?
The draft, retention rules, and squad structures remain stalled until ownership is finalized.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
Step into the world of cricket with JeetBuzz News—where expert opinions, trending Blogs, and behind-the-scenes insights meet all your favorite topics. Stay informed, stay entertained, and never miss the stories shaping the cricketing world—only on JeetBuzz News!
