The Pakistan Super League has seen a major change as the renowned Multan Sultans franchise played its last match on February 9, 2026. In a high-stakes auction in Lahore, the franchise was sold for a record amount, setting a new benchmark in the PSL’s financial landscape.
This shift brings a new corporate player into Cricket and has led to an immediate rebranding, moving the team from South Punjab to the twin cities. While the Sultans brand ends after eight years, including a championship win in 2021, it marks the beginning of a financially robust new phase for the league’s upcoming 11th season.
PSL 2026: Multan Sultans sold, record price set as team relocates to Rawalpindi
The auction for the Multan franchise was eagerly awaited, concluding with a record price of PKR 2.45 billion (about $8.8 million) for the annual fee. This bid was won by Walee Technologies, a global fintech and media firm, headed by CEO Ahsan Tahir.
The bidding process was intense, with Walee outbidding competitors like CD Ventures and Particle Igniter, nearly doubling the previous record of PKR 1.85 billion set by the Sialkot Stallionz just a month earlier. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi called this sale a “watershed moment,” highlighting that the high valuation was a result of the league adopting a player auction model. For Walee Technologies, this investment is a strategic move into sports ownership, aiming to enhance fan engagement and digital broadcasting for the expanded 8-team format.
New beginning in Rawalpindi under CEO Ahsan Tahir ahead of PSL 2026
In a surprising turn for fans in South Punjab, Walee Technologies has chosen to rebrand the team as Rawalpindi. This change ends the Multan Sultans identity and shifts the team’s home games to the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which will now be shared with Islamabad United.
“Are you ready for a surprise? We will be going for Rawalpindi!” CEO Ahsan Tahir stated, as reported by The Dawn.
CEO Ahsan Tahir expressed a personal connection to Rawalpindi as a key reason for the relocation. While this rebranding starts a new chapter, it leaves a sentimental gap in Multan, a city known for its strong support of the Sultans and their ‘Janoob ki Pehchan’ (Identity of the South) slogan. As the newly named Rawalpindi franchise prepares for the PSL 11 player auction on February 12, the management faces the challenge of constructing a completely new team to represent one of Pakistan’s most passionate cricket-loving cities.
