Ali Tareen has emerged as a surprise contender in the bidding process to launch a new football league in Pakistan, entering a race dominated by two franchise league groups that have long been trying to establish a domestic competition.
Tareen, who previously owned the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans, confirmed on Wednesday that he had submitted a formal proposal to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).
His entry comes a month after the Pakistan Cricket Board denied renewal of Multan Sultans when it extended agreements with other PSL franchises.
Last month, the PFF invited expressions of interest from individuals and companies as part of efforts to revive Pakistan’s domestic football structure.
Announcing his proposal on X, Tareen said he had suggested a season-long league rather than a short tournament.
I have proposed a season (six-month) long league for Pakistan football, not a flashy, one-month cash-grab tournament.
According to him, his proposal focuses on long-term development of the sport. The league would feature home-and-away fixtures, equity ownership for teams, and two clubs per city to create local derbies.
He also suggested mandatory women’s teams that would play earlier on matchdays, similar to the format used in England’s Hundred competition.
Two other bids have been submitted by groups seeking to establish franchise-based football leagues similar to the PSL.
One proposal has come from Global Soccer Ventures (GSV), which launched its proposed Pakistan Football League in Lahore in June last year. Zabe Khan, a former member of GSV, has submitted another bid.
All three bidders are scheduled to present their proposals to the PFF on December 29, after which the federation will decide which entity it will partner with.
Pakistan has not had a functioning domestic football league since the Pakistan Premier Football League was last held in 2019. That competition featured a mix of departmental teams and a small number of clubs.
