Multan: Sultans return to PSL in South Punjab's cricketing homecoming
After a turbulent ownership dispute that briefly removed the Multan Sultans from the Pakistan Super League, the franchise has been formally reinstated under CD Ventures, led by Gohar Shah, following the conversion of the Sialkot Stallionz franchise license. The revival marks a joyful return for the city of Multan and the wider South Punjab region, which the team has long symbolized as a sporting and cultural platform. Former owner Ali Tareen, whose seven-year stewardship produced the 2021 PSL championship, publicly welcomed the development with an emotional statement declaring that South Punjab once again has its voice.
🎬 Tareen eyes Sultans reacquisition as auction approaches
Former Pakistan Super League franchise Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen emerged as a frontrunner to reacquire the 2021 PSL champions, with sources telling Geo News that he had submitted the required documents to participate in the team's upcoming auction, expected on either February 8 or 9. Tareen had chosen not to renew his ownership contract after the landmark 10th edition of the marquee league, owing to unresolved differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board. His interest in bidding for the Sultans came despite earlier hesitation — Tareen had been among the qualified bidders for two newly formed PSL franchises but withdrew at the final hour. Those franchises, acquired by FKS Group and OZ Developers, were named after Hyderabad and Sialkot respectively. In a reflective post on X, Tareen articulated the depth of his emotional investment in the team, describing it not merely as a sporting franchise but as a vehicle for regional representation. Our time with Multan Sultans was never just about owning a cricket team. It was about South Punjab. About giving a voice to a region that had been overlooked for too long. That is what drove everything we built, he wrote. Tareen ultimately confirmed he would not take part in the franchise auction, yet his statement made clear that for him and his family, the Sultans had always meant far more than cricket statistics or league standings. The announcement drew significant attention from cricket fans and South Punjab communities who closely follow the fate of the franchise. [5]
🎬 Sultans officially restored to PSL under Gohar Shah
The Multan Sultans completed their formal return to the Pakistan Super League following a restructuring of the Sialkot Stallionz franchise license, which transitioned to CD Ventures under businessman Gohar Shah. PSL officials confirmed the development in Lahore, and the franchise was subsequently rebranded as Multan Sultans, reinstating one of the league's most regionally resonant identities. The restructured franchise was valued at Rs 2 billion annually. For former owner Ali Tareen, the moment carried deep personal significance. Reflecting on his seven years with the club, he described his departure as one without regrets, though he acknowledged that the franchise's earlier removal from the league had been a genuine wound. The only moment that truly affected me was when Multan was removed from the league. That hurt. More than anything. Not because of what it meant for me, but because of what it meant for the fans and the people of South Punjab, he wrote. Tareen drew attention to what the Sultans represented beyond sport — a platform for a region long overlooked in national discourse. South Punjab has always been underrepresented. Its people are passionate, talented, and deserve every platform they can get, he stated. Acknowledging Gohar Shah's role in restoring the franchise, Tareen wrote: The city has its team again. South Punjab has its voice again. The reinstatement of Multan Sultans in the PSL marked more than a structural shift — as Tapmad reported, it reconnects an entire region to its sporting identity, restoring both civic pride and a beloved cultural institution to one of Pakistan's most passionate cricket cities. [6]