Things are heating up off the field ahead of PSL 10, and it’s not just about the cricket. In a rare public spat between team owners, Karachi Kings’ Salman Iqbal has come out strongly against Multan Sultans’ Ali Tareen, who recently criticized the Pakistan Super League’s buildup to its landmark tenth season.
Ali Tareen’s Harsh Take on PSL 10
Let’s start with what triggered all this. Ali Tareen, the passionate and often outspoken owner of the Multan Sultans, went on a podcast and questioned the PCB’s repeated claims of making this PSL season the “best ever.”
“How is PSL 10 bigger and better?” Tareen asked bluntly. “Same games, same teams, same stadiums. I’m tired of these empty words.”
In his view, the lack of innovation and tangible upgrades is making the “best ever” label sound hollow. According to him, there’s too much reliance on slogans and not enough serious effort behind the scenes.
Salman Iqbal Responds – And He Doesn’t Hold Back
That didn’t sit well with Salman Iqbal, owner of Karachi Kings and President/CEO of the ARY Group. In a strongly worded social media statement, he defended the PSL, calling it “Pakistan’s pride” and a “made-in-Pakistan success story.”
He pointed out that from day one, ARY believed in PSL’s potential. Not only did they make the highest bid to own the Karachi Kings, but they also used their media platforms to build and promote the league.
“We broadcasted every draft live and uninterrupted. Later, A Sports offered the highest ever bid for PSL TV rights. Even this Ramzan, ARY dedicated its biggest show, Jeeto Pakistan, to unveil the PSL trophy,” he wrote.
He praised Salman Naseer and the PCB team, urging all stakeholders to back their efforts rather than publicly tearing them down.
Salman Iqbal urged the franchise owners to show unity, recognizing the hard work that’s gone into building the PSL brand. For him, public negativity does more harm than good, especially when the league is finally finding its feet on the global stage.
“Every stakeholder, including Ali Tareen, benefits from its growth. So let’s protect what we’ve built,” Iqbal said in his closing remarks.
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