BREAKING NEWS
Advertise with us >

PSL 11: Multan Sultans seal easy win over Rawalpindi

PSL 11

LAHORE: Multan Sultans secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Rawalpindi Pindiz in the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League.

Chasing a target of 183 runs, Multan Sultans comfortably reached the total in 16.2 overs, losing just three wickets.

Sahibzada Farhan played a match-winning knock of 68 runs off 38 balls, while Josh Philippe contributed 56 runs. Shan Masood scored 27, and captain Ashton Turner remained unbeaten on 26.

For Rawalpindi, Mohammad Amir picked up two wickets.

Earlier, Rawalpindi Pindi Boys posted 182 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted overs. Sam Billings top-scored with 56 off 34 balls, while Kamran Ghulam added 35 runs.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan managed 19 runs, while Dane Forrester scored 24 and Daryl Mitchell made 17 before being dismissed by Faisal Akram.

Faisal Akram was the standout bowler for Multan Sultans, claiming four wickets. Arafat Minhas took two wickets, while Peter Siddle and Mohammad Ismail grabbed one wicket each.

Multan captain Ashton Turner had earlier won the toss and elected to field first, opting to retain the winning combination.

Lahore Qalandars beats Multan Sultans by 20 runs

Lahore Qalandars

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars secured a 20-run victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-affected match of the Pakistan Super League.

The match, played at Gaddafi Stadium, saw a delayed toss due to rain. After the delay, Multan Sultans won the toss and opted to field first. The game was reduced to 13 overs per side because of weather conditions.

Batting first, Lahore Qalandars posted a massive total of 185/5 in 13 overs. Muhammad Naeem led the charge with 60 runs, while Parvez Hossain contributed 45 runs. Abdullah Shafique added 33, and Sikandar Raza chipped in with 13 runs.

For Multan Sultans, Mohammad Ismail picked up two wickets.

In response to a target of 186, Multan Sultans managed 165/5 in their allotted 13 overs.

Captain Ashton Turner led the charge with 52 runs, while Shan Masood contributed 44. Arafat Minhas also added a valuable 25 runs.

For Lahore Qalandars, Mustafizur Rahman claimed two wickets to help seal the victory.

Sultans seal six-wicket victory in nail-biting PSL encounter

Sultans seal

Lahore: Multan Sultans secured a dominant six-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the eighth match of PSL 11 at Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing a massive target of 226 runs, Multan Sultans successfully reached 227 for 4 in just 18.4 overs. The defeat marked Hyderabad Kingsmen’s third consecutive loss in the tournament.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan delivered a outstanding performance, scoring an unbeaten century off 55 balls, smashing 7 fours and 7 sixes. Steve Smith contributed 46 runs, while Shan Masood added 29. Josh Philippe scored 9, and captain Ashton Turner managed 4 runs.

For Hyderabad Kingsmen, Saim Ayub took two wickets, while Maheesh Theekshana and Hassan Khan claimed one each.

Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted a formidable total of 225 for 5 in their allotted overs. Muaz Sadaqat scored a quickfire 62 off 26 balls, while Sharjeel Khan added 51 runs. Irfan Niazi contributed 22 runs.

Saim Ayub scored 27, Usman Khan made 25, and captain Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed for 8, while Syed Saad Ali added 23 runs.

For Multan Sultans, Mohammad Wasim Jr picked up two wickets, while Peter Siddle and Ashton Turner took one wicket each.

Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne had opted to field first, expressing hope that his team would avoid previous mistakes and deliver a strong performance. Meanwhile, Multan skipper Ashton Turner said his side aimed to restrict the opposition to a manageable total.

In another development, the previous day’s PSL match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi was abandoned due to rain, with both teams awarded one point each.

Schedule announced for HBL Pakistan Super League Season 11

Schedule announced

ISLAMABAD: The schedule for the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League Season 11 (PSL 11) has been officially announced, with the tournament set to run from March 26 to May 3.

According to the details, a total of 44 matches will be played during the tournament. For the first time in PSL history, eight teams will participate in the competition. Two new franchises — Hyderabad Kings Men and Rawalpindi Pindis League — have been added to the league.

During the league stage, each team will play 10 matches, while the playoffs will begin on April 28.

The matches of PSL 11 will be held across six cities, with Faisalabad and Peshawar set to host PSL games for the first time. The opening match of the tournament will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, including a qualifier, while 15 matches are scheduled to be played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

In a historic development, Faisalabad will host seven PSL matches for the first time, and Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar will also stage PSL games for the first time.

Meanwhile, Multan Cricket Stadium will host four matches, featuring the home team Multan Sultans, while National Bank Stadium in Karachi will stage six matches during the tournament.

The schedule also includes 12 double-headers, adding more excitement for cricket fans throughout the competition.

Ali Tareen reacts to Multan Sultans’ return to PSL

Ali Tareen reacts

MULTAN: Former owner of Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, has shared his reaction following the franchise’s official return to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Earlier, the PSL 11 franchise initially introduced as Sialkot Stallions was formally rebranded as Multan Sultans. The development was confirmed by PSL Chief Executive Salman Naseer during a joint press conference attended by franchise owner Hamza Majeed and CD Ventures head Gohar Shah.

OZ Developers had secured the Sialkot Stallions franchise rights for 10 years at Rs1.85 billion during the Islamabad auction but later entered into a strategic partnership with CD Ventures.

Under the new arrangement, Gohar Shah has been appointed CEO, and the team has been renamed Multan Sultans.

Responding on social media, Ali Tareen said that after spending seven years with Multan Sultans, he ended his journey without regret.

“This chapter of my life gave me some of my proudest moments, and I will always be grateful for it,” he wrote.

He added that the only moment that truly affected him was when Multan was removed from the league.

“It was deeply painful — not because of how it affected me personally, but because of the impact it had on the fans and the people of South Punjab,” he stated.

Tareen emphasized that South Punjab has long faced underrepresentation. “The people here are passionate and talented, and they deserve every platform available to them. Multan Sultans was not just a cricket team, but a symbol of pride and identity for an entire region that has long been overlooked.”

He further expressed gratitude to Gohar Shah for advocating for South Punjab and bringing the franchise back to the PSL.

“The city has regained its team, and South Punjab has regained its voice,” he concluded.

Sialkot Stallions rebranded as Multan Sultans for PSL 11

Sialkot Stallions

LAHORE: The franchise initially introduced as Sialkot Stallions for the upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 has been officially rebranded as Multan Sultans.

The development was confirmed on Tuesday by PSL Chief Executive Salman Naseer during a joint press conference attended by franchise owner Hamza Majeed and CD Ventures head Gohar Shah.

Earlier, OZ Developers had secured the Sialkot Stallions franchise rights for 10 years at a bid of Rs1.85 billion during the team auction held in Islamabad. However, the company has now entered into a strategic partnership with CD Ventures.

Under the new arrangement, Gohar Shah has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the franchise, and the team has been renamed Multan Sultans.

According to Salman Naseer, following the latest development, the franchise’s annual valuation has increased to Rs2 billion. He revealed that after assuming office, Gohar Shah formally requested the name change, which was subsequently approved.

“Sialkot Stallions will now participate as Multan Sultans,” Naseer stated.

Speculation had circulated in recent weeks regarding the Sialkot-based franchise, including reports about OZ Developers selling shares and facing financial challenges.

Speaking at the press conference, Multan Sultans CEO Gohar Shah confirmed his formal induction into the franchise leadership and expressed his desire to strengthen South Punjab’s representation in the league.

“An individual stallion cannot win the PSL alone; to move forward, a stallion needs a sultan — and we have come as the Sultan,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of preserving Multan’s identity.

The PSL Season 11 is scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

Walee Tech acquires Multan for Rs2.45b, renames team Rawalpindi

Wilee Tech acquires

LAHORE: Walee Tech has acquired the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan for Rs2.45 billion, making it the most expensive franchise in the league’s history, and announced that the team will now be renamed Rawalpindi.

The auction ceremony for the Multan Sultans franchise was held in Lahore, where five bidders participated. The base price for the franchise was set at Rs1.82 billion.

After a competitive bidding process, Walee Tech secured ownership rights for a period of 10 years at a record price of Rs2.45 billion.

Following the completion of the auction, Wilee Tech’s management formally announced the change of the team’s name from Multan to Rawalpindi.

Addressing a press conference, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Walee Tech on the successful acquisition and thanked former PCB chairman Najam Sethi for establishing the Multan Sultan franchise. He also appreciated all bidders for their participation in the transparent auction process.

Mohsin Naqvi said the sale was the result of months of hard work and strategic planning aimed at maximizing the franchise’s value.

He revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed happiness over the successful outcome, adding that some critics had earlier claimed the team would not even reach a valuation of Rs1 billion.

“The increase in the franchise value reflects the vision behind the PSL,” Naqvi said, adding that the league aims to grow beyond Pakistan and establish itself as a major global cricket event with top international players.

However, the PCB chairman also expressed personal sadness over the name change, stating that Multan Sultans had become a strong and historic brand over the years.

He acknowledged the efforts of PSL CEO Salman Naseer in building the franchise and said the matter of branding would be considered carefully in the future.

Ali Tareen looks to regain ownership of Multan Sultans

Ali Tareen

LAHORE: Former owner of the Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, is reportedly keen to buy back the Pakistan Super League(PSL) team.

Sources indicate that Ali Tareen has decided to participate in the bidding process for the Multan franchise and has submitted the necessary documents for consideration.

Earlier, Tareen had declined to retain ownership of Multan SultanS and had also expressed interest in bidding for two new PSL teams, though he withdrew at the last moment.

Commenting on his withdrawal from the new team bids, Tareen had stated that if he returns to PSL, it would be for Southern Punjab.

The auction for the Multan franchise is expected to take place on 8th or 9th February.

PCB fixes base price for PSL’s new franchises ahead of auction

PCB fixes

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly almost tripled the value of all six existing Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises, while setting a price of PKR 1.3 billion per year for each of the two new franchises.

Although no official announcement has been made by PCB regarding the exact figures, media reports suggest that the new valuations are significantly higher than before. Unlike 2016, when franchise prices were quoted in US dollars, all financial transactions are now being conducted in Pakistani rupees.

To attract investors for the two new franchises and the Multan Sultans, PCB organized a grand roadshow in London.

The Board has shortlisted six cities—Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit—from which two cities will be selected to expand the PSL to eight teams.

PCB also plans to hold a roadshow in New York as part of its global investment strategy, aiming to draw international investors’ attention before the auction of the two new franchises.

The initiative highlights the PSL’s commercial potential, international following, and long-term growth prospects.

PCB summons emergency meeting after PSL franchises’ request

PCB summons

LAHORE: A key meeting between the Pakistan Super League (PSL) management and franchise owners has been scheduled for Tuesday, following a request made by the team owners during their recent discussions with the league administration, sources confirmed.

According to reliable sources, franchise representatives had raised several concerns regarding the PSL 2026 and 2027 editions, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to convene the session. The meeting will be held at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and attended by all six franchises, including Multan Sultans.

Franchise owners have sought detailed briefings on commercial affairs, the event window, and the EY (Ernst & Young) evaluation report, sources added. They have also demanded clarification regarding the two-year title sponsorship agreement process, which will be discussed during the session.

PCB officials are expected to present their stance on these matters and share the league’s roadmap for the next phase.

The PCB has already decided to add two new teams to the PSL, expanding the league from six to eight franchises. As the tournament marks its 10-year milestone, new franchise agreements are expected to be finalized later this month.

PSL CEO Salman Naseer said that the league’s matches will soon extend beyond the current venues — Lahore, Karachi, Multan, and Rawalpindi — to include Faisalabad and Peshawar.

He further revealed that tenders for the new franchises will be issued in November, and interested parties will be able to choose from a list of proposed city names for their teams.