 "Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal was among the prominent names to criticise Ali Tareen for his remarks over PSL. Images: Salman Iqbal on X/Multan Sultans on X")
Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has been forced to clarify his controversial statements over the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after he attacked the league management and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their “hollow” words and neglecting a successful T20 brand .
Tareen had accused PCB of making tall claims about PSL while neglecting the T20 league which is stagnating due to a lack of innovation.
Karachi Kings owner, PCB criticises Ali Tareen
Tareen’s comments, however, sparked a controversy in Pakistan cricket as Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal slammed Tareen for demeaning a made-in-Pakistan product.
“Since the start of PSL, many doubted us, critics from India and even some local TV channels. But what truly hurts is when one of our own, a team owner, chooses to publicly ridicule and disrespect this league despite its continuous growth. PSL is Pakistan’s pride, a product which has made stars,” he said.
“From day one, ARY stood by PSL, placing the highest bid to own Karachi Kings, building its image through our platforms, and broadcasting every draft live and uninterrupted. Later, A Sports stepped up and gave the highest ever bid for PSL TV rights, a testament to our belief in this league. And this Ramzan, ARY offered their highest-rated and biggest game show of Pakistan, which is watched by millions around the world daily during Ramzan, ‘Jeeto Pakistan,’ for the unveiling of the PSL trophy,” Iqbal added.
“Salman Naseer and the PCB team are giving their all to uplift PSL. Instead of negativity and denunciation of the league, we, as team owners, must step up and back their efforts. PSL is more than cricket. It’s a MADE-IN-PAKISTAN success story. Every stakeholder, including Ali Tareen, benefits from its growth. So, let’s protect what we’ve built.”
A PCB official accused Tareen of not attending the PSL meetings but trying to create a controversy with his comments.
“If there are issues, they should come to us directly. Unfortunately, the complainant doesn’t even come to meetings — and such issues are never raised at those meetings,” a PCB official was quoted as saying by Minute Mirror.
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More Shorts“If there are issues, they should come to us directly. Unfortunately, the complainant doesn’t even come to meetings — and such issues are never raised at those meetings,” he further added.
Ali Tareen explains controversial statements on PSL
Facing criticism from all corners, Tareen has now backtracked on his comments, clarifying that he was only referring to the stagnation in the growth of the PSL brand. He emphasised that he is not against the PSL or the PCB
“I want us to keep doing good work as I love Pakistan cricket and PSL a lot,” Tareen said while speaking to Samaa TV. “I don’t want that us to stagnate as it appears now. I want that we revitalise PSL, grow it and innovate it. I am against the mediocrity that we are seeing from last year. Till my last breath is left, till I get opportunities, I will keep pushing the PSL management to keep making the project much better
“Especially for fans, as a viewing experience, the experience of going to the stadiums, overall to make it an international brand. So I will keep pushing the management so that they keep improving. Maybe people may not have liked my blunt remarks, sometimes I end up saying a lot over tea but I love the brand.”
The 10th season of the PSL starts on 11 April with a match between Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars.