PSL 2024: Pakistan Cricket Board Stopped By Government From Selling Media Rights - Reports
Published - 24 Dec 2023, 04:34 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:24 AM

Ahead of the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the bidding process for the sale of the broadcast and the international media rights has been delayed. The process got delayed because the caretaker government has stopped the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), from doing so, as per PTI.
Pakistan Cricket Board and the Cricket Management Committee chairman Zaka Ashraf postponed visiting Australia to meet Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, the PSL’s patron. The Pakistani government’s decision came just when the CMC, which also manages the affairs of the PCB, was about to invite bids for the sale of PSL broadcast and international media rights.
PSL’s broadcast and international media rights bidding process delayed
A reliable source from the PCB said on Sunday (as quoted by PTI), “The government’s Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (sports) has issued a notification to the board making it clear that from now on, the CMC/PCB has to seek permission from the government before signing any major deal.”
The technical bids for the PSL broadcast and international media rights were due to be submitted by December 22, 2023. However, after the meeting between Zaka Ashraf and the Pakistani Prime Minister, the bidders were informed that there would be a delay in the process.
PSL and its broadcast rights are one of the major sources of income for the Pakistan Cricket Board, and it is expected that there will be a 50 percent rise in the value of the next broadcast deal.
As per the reports, the PSL’s new broadcast deal will be for two seasons, 2024 and 2025. Several local sports channels from Pakistan are expected to submit their bids whereas some channels are expected to form a group to submit their bids. Currently, the PSL is available for viewing on PTV, which is Pakistan’s local state channel.
The draft for the ninth edition of the PSL was released last week whereas the schedule for the next edition is yet to be finalised. The tenure of the current government ends on February 4 whereas there will be nationwide general elections on February 8, which is the main reason behind the delay in finalizing the PSL schedule.
However, there has been a lot of instability in the Pakistan Cricket Board. The PCB has not been able to fire the current coaching staff which includes team director Mickey Arthur and head coach Grant Bradburn. However, they have been replaced by Mohammad Hafeez in both posts.
It is believed that when the tenure of the PCB chief Zaka Ashraf ends there will be a new Pakistan Cricket Board administration in which there might be a lot more turmoil.
Getting back to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) it has emerged as one of the major cricketing leagues in the world ever since its first season in the year 2016. Till now a total of eight seasons of the PSL have been held wherein Islamabad United and the Lahore Qalandars have emerged to be the most successful teams.
Both teams have won two titles each whereas the other four teams have come out as winners once.
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Pakistan Cricket Board Pakistan National Cricket Team Pakistan Super League (PSL) PCB PSL Zaka Ashraf