PCB shortlists five bidders for Multan Sultans' auction [Source: X.com]The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially confirmed that five bidders have been shortlisted for the auction of the Multan Sultans franchise. This announcement was made on Monday ahead of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Notably, the Multan Sultans franchise are currently without an owner, which is why the auction is being held.PCB finalizes five bidders for Multan Sultans According to the PCB, the shortlisted bidders were selected after a detailed review of the proposals submitted by interested parties. The decision was shared through an official press release following the completion of the technical evaluation process.In total, six parties submitted proposals within the given deadline. After this, the PCB’s bid committee carried out what it described as a “thorough and transparent” evaluation. As a result, five bidders were declared technically qualified to move forward in the auction process.The PCB stated, “A total of six proposals were received from interested parties within the stipulated deadline. The PCB bid committee then carried out a thorough and transparent evaluation process.” It further added, “Out of the six proposals, five (5) bidders have been termed technically qualified, who will now take part in the auction process of the Multan Sultans. The date and venue for the auction will be shared in due course.”At this stage, the PCB has not yet announced when or where the franchise auction will take place. However, officials have assured fans that these details will be shared soon.PSL CEO shares his viewsMeanwhile, PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer expressed his happiness over the strong interest shown by investors. He appreciated all the parties who took part in the bidding process and congratulated those who qualified.Naseer said that the interest in acquiring the Multan Sultans franchise shows the growing value of the PSL. He also mentioned that fans can expect an exciting team auction before attention shifts to the player auction for PSL 11. According to him, the final list of eight team owners will mark the beginning of a new era for the league.Former Multan Sultans’ owner’s possible returnThis development came just two days after reports suggested that Ali Tareen, the former owner of Multan Sultans, is interested in buying back the franchise. Sources claim that Tareen, who previously owned the team when it won the title in 2021, decided not to renew his contract after PSL 10 due to disagreements with the PCB. However, he has now reportedly chosen to participate in the auction.In addition to the franchise auction, the player auction for PSL 11 is scheduled to take place on February 11. The PSL has also confirmed that player bidding will be conducted in Pakistani Rupees (PKR). The highest base price has been set at PKR 42 million, while other categories are priced lower.Notably, the PCB has introduced a major change by replacing the traditional draft system with an auction model for the first time. This shift has been made to accommodate two new teams, Hyderabad and Sialkot.
