.svg)
Key Takeaways
- 1📊 Tareen exits PSL auction despite strong pre-auction interest
- 2🏆 Former Multan Sultans owner wants only a South Punjab team
- 3💡 Regional identity proving crucial in PSL franchise politics
- 4🔮 Future Multan sale could spark another Tareen bidding push
"The decision, which came at the very last minute, was announced by Tareen on X"
In a dramatic late twist, former Multan Sultans owner Jahangir Khan Tareen pulled out of the PSL franchise auction at the last moment, just when it looked like he was ready to jump back into Pakistan’s booming T20 ecosystem.
South Punjab loyalty over PSL expansion race
Tareen announced his withdrawal publicly, stressing that his bond with the league had always been rooted in representing South Punjab rather than simply owning another T20 brand. He made it clear that any return to PSL ownership would only be for a team based in that region, and that he would wait specifically for the Multan franchise to come back on the market.
"If I come back to PSL, it has to be for the same reason. South Punjab is where my heart is. It is home."
The U-turn was all the more striking because Tareen had flown into Islamabad and openly engaged fans over possible team names in the lead-up to the auction. With PSL adding two new sides from 2026, his name had been bracketed among the front-runners, and his financial clout plus past success with Multan Sultans made him a heavyweight player.
For fans across the border in India, the episode underlines how seriously PSL franchises are now valued, with political influence, regional identity and serious capital all in play. Tareen’s decision narrows the field for the new teams, but it also sets up an intriguing future battle whenever Multan is back on the block.
Related Stories
