Former Pakistan Super League champions Multan Sultans have made a dramatic return to the tournament after new franchise Sialkot Stallionz was purchased and rebranded just weeks before the PSL 2026 season kicks off on March 26, with Gohar Shah taking a 98 per cent stake through CD Ventures to restore the South Punjab franchise to the league.
Gohar Shah Leads Stallionz to Sultans Transformation
Gohar Shah, a former domestic cricketer, assumed the CEO role and immediately submitted an application to the Pakistan Cricket Board to change the franchise name. “The first thing Gohar did upon assuming the role of CEO was submit an application to the PCB.
He agreed to pay the one-time franchise fee to change the name, and now this team will be known as the Multan Sultans,” PSL CEO Salman Naseer announced at Tuesday’s press conference.
Shah emphasized his commitment to representing South Punjab: “I want my region to be represented, which is Multan, and South Punjab. It was very important for me that Multan stayed in the PSL, and will continue to stay in the future.”
Why Multan Left PSL Last Season
Multan Sultans competed in PSL 2025 but disappeared after owner Ali Khan Tareen decided not to renew his ownership following a dispute with the PCB when his contract ended between seasons. The 2021 PSL champions’ absence lasted only one season before this dramatic comeback.
Star-Studded Squad Retained
Despite the ownership change and rebranding, the squad remains intact from the Sialkot Stallionz auction. Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine stays as head coach, with star Australian batter Steve Smith already signed pre-auction.
The roster includes Australians Josh Philippe, Ashton Turner, and Peter Siddle, South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, and Pakistani stars Sahibzada Farhan, currently the T20 World Cup’s leading run-scorer after the Super 8s, and Test captain Shan Masood.
Multan Sultans PSL 2026 Squad
Steve Smith, Josh Philippe, Ashton Turner, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Sahibzada Farhan, Shan Masood, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Jahanzaib Sultan, Momin Qamar, Muhammad Awais Zafar.
PSL 2026 begins March 26 with Lahore Qalandars facing Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, though the complete schedule remains unannounced.
