PCB And PSL Franchises Ordered To End All Ties With Betting Companies By Pakistan Government

The Pakistan government has ordered the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises to not sign any sponsorship deal with surrogate betting companies.

In order to save the ‘moral fabric of Pakistan’, the country’s Ministry of Information and and Broadcasting has decided to take strict action against the companies that promote online betting in a disguised manner. The ministry has reportedly named surrogate companies such as 1Xbat, MelBat, Dafa News, and 111 Wolf News in an official letter.

All the aforementioned companies were the main sponsors of the PSL franchises in the last edition. The franchises as well as the PCB have now been ordered against doing any business with such companies. They have also been asked to immediately terminate their existing agreements with such surrogate companies.

In a letter addressed to the PCB, PEMRA, PTV, PBC, PTA, and SECP, the information ministry has highlighted that it has come to its knowledge that some betting outfits have entered the Pak market with slightly amended titles.

“These are originally gambling, betting, and casino companies. Such operations are mostly run from some hostile countries with the motive to destroy the moral fabric of Pakistan, to introduce corruption in Pakistan team and to put Pakistan into further economic turmoil through moving untaxed money out of the country in dollars,” read the letter from the ministry.

It further pointed out that many advertisements of such betting companies are being run on digital, electronic, social, and print media in the country. The ministry then highlighted the need to stop all such surrogate betting companies from operating in the country.

The letter further read: “Strictly advised to not make any agreements and business relations with such surrogate companies and to not promote them through any kind of advertisement. It is advised to immediately terminate all existing agreements with such surrogate companies.”

Pakistan Super League 2024 schedule:

Meanwhile, the PCB has confirmed the slot for the next season of the PSL. In a recent meeting, the PCB and the PSL Governing Council finalized that the window for the next season of the tournament is between February 8 and March 24. The final schedule will be announced after the next meeting.

“The window for the upcoming season is decided between 8 February to 24 March 2024. A final schedule will be confirmed in the next meeting,” PCB confirmed.