ISLAMABAD (MNN); Ali Khan Tareen’s departure from the Pakistan Super League franchise Multan Sultans has reignited debate about internal rifts, transparency issues, and long-running tensions between the team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
His exit marks the end of a five-year era shaped by investment, reforms and controversy.
Multan Sultans owner Ali Khan Tareen stepped down from the franchise on Tuesday after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chose not to offer him a renewal for the next PSL financial cycle.
While all five remaining PSL franchises, including Islamabad United and Karachi Kings, renewed their agreements for the next 10 years over the past two days, Tareen did not receive the same opportunity.
This raised immediate questions about whether long-standing disagreements between him and the PCB influenced the decision.
Tareen announced his exit through a heartfelt note on social media platform X, emphasising his emotional and financial commitment to the Sultans.
“Despite the financial losses year after year, I never once thought about walking away,” he wrote. “The Sultans have never just been a business project for me; I have gone to every extent required to protect this team.”
He acknowledged that he has often been a controversial figure for board officials due to his outspoken criticism of PSL governance, revenue distribution, and management practices.
“I know I’m not everyone’s cup of tea… I have always spoken my mind,” he said, hinting that his candid approach may have put him at odds with the PCB.
Tareen stated that he had never been someone who could “play it safe” or remain silent for the sake of favour.
“If staying means compromising those principles, there is only one choice I can make,” he wrote. “I would rather lose this team while standing on my feet than run it from my knees. So, this is goodbye.”
Ali Tareen’s relationship with the PCB has long been marred by disagreements, particularly over PSL’s central revenue system, player draft processes, and perceived lack of transparency in board decisions. In the past, Tareen openly criticised:
• inconsistent team valuation policies,
• the PSL’s financial model, which he argued disproportionately favoured the PCB, and
• delays in major commercial and operational decisions affecting franchise owners.
Sources within cricket circles have long suggested that his vocal stance made him “uncomfortable” for the board — a perception that many believe played a role in the PCB’s reluctance to renew his contract.
His exit has now sparked concerns about diminishing space for independent voices within the PSL ecosystem.
