Follow UsPakistan Super League (PSL) side Multan Sultans' co-owner Ali Khan Tareen has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing it of mismanagement and inability to tolerate criticism. His fiery response came after the PCB sent him a legal notice threatening to terminate his franchise’s contract, but he dramatically tore it up on camera after exposing the issues in PSL and apologising in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
In the viral video posted on his social media platforms, Tareen declared, “Everything that I have said against the PSL management, if I don’t take it back and don’t make a public apology, then they will cancel our Multan Sultans franchise agreement and blacklist me from the PSL forever so that I can never own a team again.” He added sharply, “Look, this is exactly what you don’t want — that you work with your stakeholders. You just want us all to sit quietly. You cannot tolerate even a little criticism.”
Tareen also criticised the board for its lack of basic communication. “Till today, I have never received a single call, a message, an email, or an invitation — asking, ‘Do you have any issues? Come to the office, let’s meet together, address them…’ Straightaway, a legal notice,” he said. Expressing his passion for PSL, he also remarked, “I love this league. I love it far more than you do … this league belongs to us, to the fans, to all of Pakistan. The way the three of you are running it — this does not belong to you alone.”
Tareen maintained his defiance even while responding to PCB's direction to apologise over his statements, and offered a sarcastic apology that exposed the hypocrisy in PCB's functioning.
“Although my legal team is telling me that an apology is not necessary … but look — a true big man apologises. So I am completely ready to apologise … I apologise that when I saw issues, I raised my voice … I apologise that I was unhappy that you give each other such high-fives for so little work," Tareen said.
The dramatic exchange has intensified the standoff between the franchise and the PCB, casting uncertainty over the future of Multan Sultans ahead of the next PSL season as the PCB gets ready to renew franchise rights in December when the bidding will take place.