PCB Chairman Commits to Turning Multan Sultans Profitable Before Next Year’s Auction
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has pledged to transform the financially struggling Multan Sultans franchise into a profitable entity by the time of next year’s auction. He made these remarks during a high-profile ceremony marking the addition of two new teams to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
PCB to Manage Multan Sultans Ahead of Auction
In an effort to demonstrate the franchise’s financial viability, Naqvi announced that the PCB will oversee the operations of the Multan Sultans throughout the upcoming PSL 11 season. The franchise will subsequently be auctioned alongside the newly added teams.
Addressing Concerns About Financial Losses
Responding to widespread social media assertions highlighting the team’s financial losses, Naqvi accepted the challenge of showcasing the business potential of the franchise. He emphasized transparency by promising to disclose the team’s financial figures before the auction takes place.
“I took on the challenge because many claims were being made about the team’s losses. We want to prove how profitable this business can be and present the numbers publicly before the auction,” Mohsin Naqvi said.
New Additions to the PSL
The PSL has now expanded to eight teams, with Hyderabad and Sialkot officially joining as the seventh and eighth franchises, respectively. This expansion was completed during the recent, much-anticipated auction event.
- Hyderabad Franchise: Secured by a new ownership group, officially named as the seventh team.
- Sialkot Franchise: Won by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed, with a bid of Rs1.85 billion. This team is the eighth addition to the league.
The starting price for the Sialkot franchise was set at Rs1.70 billion, slightly lower than the Rs1.75 billion paid for the first newly auctioned team, held by the FKS Group.
Looking Ahead
Despite receiving advice to auction the Multan Sultans alongside the new teams, Naqvi humorously noted the mounting pressure on him to sell the franchise but expressed his determination to operate the team for a year first. He remains optimistic about achieving profitability, which he believes will further enhance the PSL’s business reputation.
“The pressure to sell the team is growing, but I want to manage it for one year and show the world that this is a highly profitable endeavor,” he stated.
This commitment highlights PCB’s broader strategy to strengthen and expand the Pakistan Super League as a commercially viable, competitive cricket league.
