ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan Super League (PSL) team franchise, Multan Sultans, might undergo a radical transformation of identity as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) gets nearer to selling the team.
As per the reports, if the new buyers take over the Multan-based franchise, they are not just free to choose a new name, but they are even allowed to rename it the way they want.
The PCB has made it very clear that “Multan Sultans” need not be the name for the franchise. The new name and the new logo can create a totally new and fresh commercial identity, depending on what the buyer eventually wants.
Recent reports have indicated that the PCB has now decided to auction off the Multan Sultans before PSL 11 in order not to miss the opportunity to sell through that later window.
The board is expected to publish an official ad inviting bids from prospective buyers, and the sale will most probably follow the same bidding process that was used in the recent expansion auctions. Being a franchise sale rather than an expansion team sale, Multan’s history of participation in PSL and its fan base, which has already been developed over time, are factors that make it more attractive from the point of view of sales.
The timing is crucial since preparations for PSL 11 have already progressed quite a lot. The players’ draft for the coming season is likely to be held around January 30, which means that franchises should get the clarity they need for making decisions and planning.
A sale conditioned on the upcoming season would also mean that the franchise’s structure has been decided; that is, either the PCB would continue to run operations temporarily while a new owner with a plan takes over, or the PCB would entirely step out. Multan’s position has been kept in limbo since the end of Ali Tareen’s ownership, with the PCB assuming control and guaranteeing the franchise’s operational continuity while a new phase is determined.
