A new controversy has erupted in Pakistan cricket as Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen publicly tore up a legal notice sent by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), declaring he would not be intimidated into silence.
In a video message posted on social media, Tareen revealed that the PSL management had served him a legal notice demanding that he withdraw his critical statements, issue an apology, and refrain from comments damaging to the league’s reputation. The notice, he said, also contained threats of terminating his franchise agreement and blacklisting him from future PSL participation.
“I will not stay quiet because of threats,” Tareen said. “If you think intimidation will silence me, you are mistaken. I love the PSL — it belongs to all of Pakistan — and I am ready to sit down and resolve issues. But till today, no one from the management has contacted me. Not a single call or email.”
In a pointed and ironic tone, Tareen went on to “apologize” for demanding better management of the league. “I apologize for asking for competent people to be included in PSL management. I apologize for criticizing the draft process, the training facilities, and the opening ceremony,” he said.
The tension between Tareen and the PCB escalated after the board issued a notice to Multan Sultans, accusing the franchise of violating the 10-year contract terms and damaging the league’s reputation through a negative campaign.
According to PCB sources, the notice alleges that the franchise had launched a deliberate media campaign to undermine the PSL’s market value ahead of its next valuation cycle, potentially affecting its long-term financial worth. The board has warned that if the franchise fails to provide a satisfactory response, the contract could be terminated and the owners blacklisted.
Sources claim that Ali Tareen had been using social media interviews and podcasts to criticize PSL operations, allegedly as part of an effort to devalue the league’s standing before PSL 10.
