In a stunning twist that’s gripped Pakistan’s cricket community, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a legal notice to Ali Khan Tareen, the outspoken co-owner of Multan Sultans. The PCB has demanded that Tareen retract his recent criticisms of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) management and issue a public apology. Failure to comply, the board warns, could result in the termination of Multan Sultans’ franchise agreement and a lifetime ban on Tareen from owning any cricket team in the future.

This explosive development comes just months before the PSL’s original 11-year franchise contracts expire in December, throwing uncertainty over the league’s stability. The conflict stems from Tareen’s vocal dissatisfaction with the PSL’s management, which he accused of lacking transparency and vision. In a series of social media posts and interviews, Tareen openly mocked the league’s operations, from draft procedures to the quality of the opening ceremony. “How will PSL 10 be bigger and better with the same teams and games?” he asked in one viral clip, sparking heated debate among fans.

Ali Tareen’s clash with the PCB sparks major tension ahead of PSL 11

The PCB, however, views his outbursts as a breach of the franchise agreement. Officials claim his remarks have harmed the league’s reputation, especially with re-bidding for all six franchises, and two new ones, on the horizon. The board’s letter, revealed on October 23, warned Tareen of potential blacklisting from all future PSL involvement.

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Tareen’s reaction was characteristically defiant. In a video that went viral on X (formerly Twitter), he dramatically tore up the legal notice, offering a sarcastic “apology” to the PCB. “I’m sorry for wanting the mic to work and the show to start on time,” he quipped, drawing laughter and applause online.

The Multan Sultans management stood firmly behind their owner, calling the PCB’s move “pettiness in the face of honest criticism.” Fans are split, some praising Tareen’s courage, others accusing him of immaturity.

As PSL 11 approaches, this confrontation has become more than a personal feud, it’s a test of whether Pakistan cricket can embrace accountability and dialogue or continue down the path of confrontation.

PCB Demands

In a major shake-up in Pakistan’s T20 landscape, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a formal termination notice to the owners of Multan Sultans, signaling the potential end of the franchise’s long-standing association with the league at the conclusion of PSL 10. The move comes amid growing tensions over franchise renewal policies and revenue-sharing structures, leaving the Sultans’ future in limbo.

Multan Sultans, under the ownership of Ali Tareen since 2018, have been one of the most successful teams in PSL history. The franchise has qualified for the playoffs every season since its debut, winning one championship in 2021 (PSL 6) and finishing as runners-up four times, including in PSL 10 earlier this year. Stars like Mohammad Rizwan, Shane Watson, Rilee Rossouw, and David Miller have donned the Sultans jersey, making the team a powerhouse in the league.

However, financial strain has plagued the franchise. Multan Sultans was acquired in 2017 for a record $5.2 million per season, significantly higher than original PSL teams like Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings. Under PCB rules, renewing owners must pay their original fee plus 25% or match a new market valuation, pushing Multan’s renewal cost beyond $6.5 million annually. Tareen has openly criticized the economics, noting the franchise has not been profitable under these terms and opting not to renew. Instead, he plans to rebid in a fresh auction, hoping for a more sustainable deal.

PCB Prepares for PSL 11 Expansion as Multan Sultans’ Future Hangs in the Balance

The PCB, chaired by Mohsin Naqvi, emphasized fairness and transparency in the rebidding process, particularly as PSL prepares to expand with two new teams for its 11th season. While the board sees Tareen’s exit as a chance to attract fresh investment, questions remain about player retention, especially for stars like Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed.

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Fans have expressed outrage over the potential upheaval, with #SaveMultanSultans trending on social media. The Sultans’ passionate fan base considers the team a symbol of Punjab pride, reflecting the energy and excitement the franchise brings to the league.

As PSL 10 nears its conclusion, the franchise’s final season under Tareen unfolds, with the team chasing playoff glory. Meanwhile, the off-season auction will determine whether the Sultans remain in Tareen’s hands or enter a new chapter in PSL history.

Multan Sultans Legacy:

• PSL Debut: PSL 3
• Championships: 1 (2021)
• Runner-up Finishes: 4
• Notable Players: Mohammad Rizwan, Shane Watson, David Miller, Rilee Rossouw

In a significant stride for Pakistan cricket, E&Y has been appointed by an independent third-party to assess the Pakistan Super League(PSL) and franchises. E&Y (Ernst & Young) is recognized as one of the largest audit firms in the world, and they are set to begin the work in the next few days. E&Y's report will be important since it will help determine new franchise fees and finances associated with the league. 

The PSL recently completed its first 10 years, and six existing franchises' current contracts are up for renewal. Based on estimates, a minimum increase of 25 percent from their current franchise fees can be expected. Before starting the process, the PCB had asked for bids from audit firms, and many made initial submissions to the board; however, only one firm, E&Y, made the financial bid. After clearing all obstacles, the PCB and E&Y confirmed their appointment.

The audit firm will be provided a six-week time period starting next month to complete the assignment and report its findings. It will be collecting financial documents from the PCB and the franchises. The teams are not required to disclose their accounts, and anything less than transparency could be costly, since the audit firm will be estimating operating results, and it may not be to the franchises' liking. Technically, each franchise is expected to submit yearly accounts to the PCB, but few actually do.

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PCB awaits valuation report amid delays in PSL operations

That report is expected next month, in October, and when the valuations come in, the PCB will establish revised fees for franchises as well as the two franchises that will likely be added in the next cycle of the tournament.

Concerns still remain regarding the pace of league operations under Salman Naseer. Franchises have repeatedly raised issues with the pace of decision-making in the league and a lack of progress on commercial agreements. Even the official dates for the 11th edition have yet to be released, as we were given an earlier timeline for when that would be!

The 10th season of the PSL took place in its April-May window and saw Lahore Qalandars defeat Quetta Gladiators in the final to win their third title. As this whole situation unfolds, the next point of focus will be what the valuation numbers ultimately look like, which could define the next era of the league.

Cricket is gearing up for a major global shake-up as the Champions League T20 format is set to return – this time with a new identity. Reports suggest the revamped competition will be called the World Club Championship, bringing together the winners of the world’s top T20 franchise leagues in a blockbuster tournament format.

Several sources have indicated that the event will take place in 2026, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) being two of the most invested in the revival. Furthermore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has also given support to the idea, signalling its desire to take club T20 cricket globally.

Participating Leagues in the Inaugural Edition:

However, there’s a major omission. No team from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will feature in the first edition, reportedly due to Pakistan Cricket Board’s absence from a key meeting held in London. The meeting, hosted under the ICC’s umbrella, was attended by representatives of all the major T20 leagues, including the Emirates League, SA20, CPL, and more. The Lahore Qalandars, the reigning PSL champions, will miss out.

Building a Unified T20 Ecosystem – and Blunting Saudi Ambitions

ECB CEO Richard Gould, in a statement to ESPNcricinfo, confirmed that the tournament is indeed "on the cards" for both men and women, calling it “the next logical step” for the evolution of franchise cricket.

The World Club Championship is also reportedly being fast-tracked to counter the emergence of the Saudi Cricket League, a high-budget T20 initiative backed by a reported USD 400 million investment. Saudi plans to model their league on the tennis Grand Slam format, but opposition from top cricket boards like the BCCI and ECB – who are unlikely to grant NOCs to their players – has already created roadblocks.

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With nearly every cricketing nation now boasting a franchise T20 league, a unified global competition makes strategic sense. It not only provides a global stage for top-performing teams but also gives players from emerging leagues – like those in the UAE and USA – a golden opportunity to rub shoulders with the sport’s elite.

A Global Reboot of Franchise Cricket's Biggest Stage

The concept closely mirrors the now-defunct Champions League T20, which ran from 2009 to 2014. That tournament saw top clubs from the IPL, BBL, South Africa’s Ram Slam, and others compete in a high-stakes, intercontinental format. The new World Club Championship aims to revive that legacy – but with a more inclusive, globally aligned structure.

Though the exact format and schedule are still under discussion, the World Club Championship is likely to:

• Feature winners (or top teams) from each major T20 league
  
• Rotate venues globally
  
• Feature both men’s and women’s editions in the long run
  
• Be supported by strong broadcast and commercial deals
  

The stage is now being set for what could become cricket’s ultimate franchise showdown. With most of the cricketing world on board and ICC backing secured, the World Club Championship promises to redefine the global T20 calendar – and spark new rivalries along the way.

Hijab Zahid has been reappointed as Senior Manager of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), reiterating her central position in one of Pakistan's most prominent sporting assets. Her reappointment indicates stability and a fresh emphasis on the development and transformation of the league.

The reappointment of Hijab has been welcomed by all within the cricket fraternity, especially those who have witnessed the growth of the PSL in terms of stature over the last few years. She had the position for a few seasons earlier, during which the PSL established itself as a successful commercial and internationally followed franchise-based T20 league.

Most respected for her professionalism and dedication towards developing the league, Hijab has had a major role in simplifying PSL operations, enhancing its online reach, and helping it gain more fans globally as well as locally. Her knowledge of the cricket ecosystem along with event management and strategic communication skills has made her an integral part of the PCB.

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Hijab Zahid's Return Brings Stability and Fresh Plans for PSL

This reappointment is timely for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is in the process of structural reforms and looking to revive its domestic and international cricket structure. With the PSL seeking to capitalize on recent achievements and increase its brand value, Hijab's return provides leadership continuity and institutional memory that should be critical to planning and implementation processes in the future.

Sources familiar with the PCB indicate that Hijab's new term would see more focus on digital innovation, overseas partnerships, and a new brand approach for the PSL. There is also speculation building that the league could look to new grounds and formats in upcoming seasons, changes that would most likely come under her strategic umbrella.

With the upcoming season of the PSL already on the drawing board, Hijab Zahid's firm hand and tested leadership may be crucial to making sure that the league keeps improving in standing and keeps pace with other international T20 competitions. Her comeback is a clear indication of the PCB's desire to blend experience with forward-thinking in charting the future of the PSL.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is on the verge of being left out of the inaugural World Clubs T20 Championship, a highly anticipated global tournament set to launch next year with backing from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its chairman Jay Shah. The exclusion has sparked widespread criticism, with many blaming the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a major oversight.

According to inside sources, the PSL champions likely contenders such as Lahore Qalandars or Multan Sultans will not be invited to participate in the event after PCB failed to attend a key planning meeting held on the sidelines of the Cricket Connect Summit in London. The meeting was hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and included CEOs of major T20 leagues like the BBL, SA20, CPL, The Hundred, ILT20, and MLC.

“The PCB was invited to send the CEO of PSL to the meeting, but no one showed up,” a source revealed. This absence reportedly hurt Pakistan’s position in discussions surrounding the event's format, schedule, and long-term vision. The inaugural edition is expected to feature five teams excluding IPL franchises for now, despite the BCCI’s backing, and mirror the model of the defunct Champions League T20.

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PSL Faces Global Exclusion Amid Saudi League Pressure

While Saudi Arabia’s proposed $400 million cricket league looms large in the background, the World Clubs Championship appears to be a counter-move, fast-tracked to establish a unified global franchise competition before Saudi plans materialize.

In the meantime, Pakistan is experiencing internal strife. Ali Tareen, the owner of the Multan Sultans, has publicly criticized the PCB for making "misleading" statements regarding PSL 10, pointing to problems with viewership, attendance, and poor management.

With the global T20 schedule changing quickly and Pakistan's cricket ecosystem coming under more scrutiny, this latest omission could be a serious blow to the PSL's reputation abroad.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) will have a drastic transformation in its 11th season, which will be held in 2026.  PSL 11 will once again clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL), and this will send a few eyebrows into a flutter in the world of international cricket.

The PCB seems keen to adhere to its March-May timeline irrespective of ongoing talks regarding avoiding scheduling clashes with the IPL. The two major leagues will again clash this year, which may create problems regarding international player availability and broadcasting commitments.

But the PSL is not giving up. It is gearing up for its best season so far, with plans to take the competition to eight franchises. Two more franchises will take the competition and viewer interest to the next level, and also offer opportunities for new local players to emerge.

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PSL 11 to have extra teams, venues, and matches as PCB is looking to make big expansion despite conflict with IPL

The competition will also see an increase in matches and venues. PSL 11 will be played in more cities across Pakistan, with Peshawar and Quetta being among the cities expected to be competing to host the matches, something aimed at taking world-class cricket to the less-represented regions. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also weighing the neutral venue option, specifically in the UAE or other cricketing-friendly countries, to manage logistics and weather risk.

The expansion decision by the PSL comes after its consolidation at the international level of the T20 league. With eight franchises now, enthusiasts can look forward to much more thrilling cricket in the league that is famous for powerful bowling attacks and closely contested matches.

PSL 11 will be a landmark season because of these events, both for Pakistani cricket and the league's reputation globally. Only time will tell if it will be able to compete in an IPL match, but whatever happens, one thing is certain: 2026 will be a big year.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released whopping digital viewership figures for the concluded Pakistan Super League Season 10 (PSL X), highlighting the competition's explosive growth and increasing global digital presence.

In debrief sessions with franchises, the PCB unveiled that PSL X saw a huge 647.25% rise in consumption of live streaming over PSL 9. This staggering growth points towards a significant change in the consumption of cricket in Pakistan, with the audience quickly adopting digital platforms to remain connected with their teams and the action, regardless of where they are.

The total viewership on live streaming sites hit a staggering 48.5 billion cumulative minutes, which highlights the tournament's power to hold a large and diverse digitally inclined fan base. The largest surge occurred at the end of the business part of the competition, the final and playoffs, where live streaming originating from within Pakistan alone had 511 million views, an all-time record in the league's history.

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PSL X Represents a Digital Milestone for Cricket in Pakistan

These statistics do more than simply indicate fan passion; they represent a change. Pakistan's cricket fanbase is no longer glued to the television. Smartphones, fast internet, and streaming applications have unlocked new avenues of fan activity and provided the PCB new ways of expanding the PSL brand.

For PCB and PSL stakeholders, this digital boom could not have arrived at a more opportune moment. As negotiations for media rights and sponsorships loom ahead, these viewership numbers provide strong bargaining chips.

Above all, PSL X's record-breaking success demonstrates that Pakistan's largest sporting spectacle is now poised for the next level of international growth, enhanced fan engagement, and sustained year-round digital connect. With the dust settling on Season 10, certainly, PSL X didn't merely entertain; it redefined the Pakistani digital sports universe.

In a major development for global T20 cricket, reports indicate that the long-defunct Champions League T20 is on track to make a grand return. The Cricketer has reported that the tournament has plans to relaunch in 2026, under a new name—the World Club Championship. The revamped competition aims to bring together top-performing T20 teams from around the world in a new, exciting format.

The new tournament will have a similar structure to the original tournament, Champions League T20 with champions of premier domestic T20 leagues like the IPL, BBL, PSL, SA20 and The Hundred participating. While specific details such as the number of participating teams are still under discussion, reports suggest that the ECB is likely to propose that winners of The Hundred participate instead of those from the Vitality Blast. The initiative has already gained traction, receiving backing from both the BCCI and ECB, with ICC Chairman Jay Shah reportedly giving the green light.

"That is on the cards. Without a doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship for both men and women. That's the next logical step," said ECB’s Richard Gould, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. The idea is to create a true global club championship that mirrors the prestige and competition level of football’s UEFA Champions League.

The Rise, Fall, and Revival of CLT20

The Champions League T20 tournament was launched in 2009 and was held annually until 2014. Although it was scheduled for its sixth tournament in 2015, the tournament was cancelled due to poor viewership and lack of a dedicated sponsor. It featured Tier 1 teams from four leagues, with IPL teams the most represented, often with three IPL teams qualifying. Notably, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians were the most successful franchises, each winning the tournament twice.

🚨 Champions League T20 set to be revived as World Club Championship from 2026 with teams from #IPL, 100 & #BBL participating (as per The Cricketer)

Another report says that Jay Shah's ICC has given its backing too (as per Cricxtasy)

Used to pray for such times😭 #CLT20 #GSLT20 pic.twitter.com/P5z5AmorNC

— t20 and nations (@t20andnations) July 1, 2025

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The revival comes at a time when T20 leagues have flourished globally, providing a perfect setting for a truly competitive club championship. With more leagues and higher global interest in franchise cricket, the World Club Championship could finally deliver on the promise of an international platform for domestic T20 champions—potentially becoming cricket’s version of the football Champions League.

ECB Looks at Bringing Back Global T20 Club Tournament

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is thinking about starting a new World Club Championship for T20 cricket. It’s been over ten years since the last Champions League T20 (CLT20) was held. The CLT20 ran from 2009 to 2014. Its final match was in Bengaluru in 2014, where Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders. The tournament stopped because not enough people were interested, and it didn’t make enough money.

Since then, many countries have started their own T20 leagues. England has The Hundred, South Africa has the SA20, the UAE has the ILT20, and the United States has the MLC. In other sports, too, club tournaments are growing. Football’s FIFA Club World Cup is getting a new format, and rugby is planning its own Club World Cup. ECB chief executive Richard Gould said they’re very interested in creating a tournament like the old CLT20.

🚨 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 🚨

- CLT20 is set to return as the World Club Championship in 2026. 🤯

- ECB and ICC Chairman Jay Shah and BCCI are actively working on the idea. [𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐠]

MASSIVE GOOD NEWS FOR CRICKET LOVERS..! 😍 pic.twitter.com/NSpEWVhI39

— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) July 1, 2025

“That is on the cards,” Gould told ESPNcricinfo. “Without doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship for both men and women. That’s the next logical step.” Gould also said the old CLT20 was a good idea but came too early. “That tournament was ahead of its time,” he said. “Commercially, it couldn’t keep up with expectations, but it was a really good event.”

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For this new World Club Championship to work, most of the IPL teams would need to support it. Many IPL owners already have teams in other countries. IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has said that the BCCI might support the idea if it can bring real value to the game.