Pakistan struggle with low demand, broadcast rights sold at deep discount as Babar Azam draws little interest
Published - 23 Aug 2024, 11:20 PM | Updated - 24 Aug 2024, 11:28 AM
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday (23rd August) faced a huge setback with the home international season underway. Cricket in the country has experienced a massive dip as the governing body sold the broadcasting rights for the international home matches for nearly half of its reserve price.
The broadcasting rights for international home matches between the period of August 2024 and December 2026 in the country were sold for PKR 1.72 billion. The rate at which the rights were sold was less than the initial reserve price of PKR 3.2 billion that the governing body kept for selling the rights.
With big names such as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the team, it was expected that the broadcasting rights would witness a massive boost. However, this wasn't the case as the rights were sold for a very low price, and it might have given trouble to the PCB.
However, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official, while speaking to PTI, claimed that the rights were sold at more than twice the amount from the previous rights cycle (FTP 2021 to 2024). It is learned that the governing body sold Pakistan region broadcasting rights for 28 months.
They reportedly sold the rights to ARY and Tower Sports, claiming the deal fetched a higher amount than the previous contract. The governing body stated that the rights were awarded “following a transparent tender process” in which several bids were received.
Broadcasting rights for the National Cricket Team matches for the 28 months include 11 Tests, including seven in the 2024-25 season, 26 ODIs, and 24 T20Is. Notably, the 50-over games also include a couple of tri-nation series in the current and next season.
Pakistan Cricket Board facing problems in generating revenues expected from broadcasting rights
It was also learned that with no big-profile foreign broadcaster showing interest in the international home season, the PCB has come under pressure. They reportedly are facing problems in generating the revenues that they expected from broadcasting rights.
The reports claimed that Pakistan Television, which is a state-owned network, bid only PKR 1.6 billion and wasn't interested in further bids. A source close to PCB admitted that the bid was less than what they expected.
He stated: “It is far less than initially what the PCB had anticipated while keeping its reserve price of PKR 3.2 billion."
The reports claimed that the Cricket Board is also in a spot of bother as they are not getting a broadcaster to show the Pakistan and England Test series in October-November. But they are confident that they will be getting a broadcaster for the series in the UK soon.
Currently, the Men In Green are locking horns with the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in the two-match Test series. The first game between the teams is underway at the Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi with the hosts being in the top position.
