The Pakistan Cricket Board has launched a strong campaign to recover billions of Pakistani rupees in unpaid fees from franchises, broadcast partners and commercial partners as it seeks to strengthen its financial position and bring more discipline to the contracting ecosystem.
According to a PTI report, the governing body recently issued a legal notice to several stakeholders associated with the Pakistan Super League. These notices warn defaulters to settle outstanding payments immediately or risk serious consequences, including possible termination of their contracts. Initially, a number of PSL franchises were among those flagged for non-payment of their annual franchise fees. However, these teams have since repaid their dues after receiving a formal communication from the PCB.
Despite settling their payments, some franchises have raised concerns of their own. They claim that the PCB is yet to release its share of revenue from the league’s central fund, especially from earlier editions. One franchise reportedly highlighted that nearly PKR 96 million from the 10th edition of the PSL remains unpaid. In response, the PCB took a firm stance and indicated that funds cannot be expected to be released when the contracting parties themselves fail to honor their financial commitments. Still, the board is believed to still owe several franchises between PKR 40-45 million related to the 2025 financial cycle.
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Two years have passed since that occasion, but the Pakistanis have found nothing pic.twitter.com/av5tRl9KPR— The Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) May 6, 2026
A significant part of the financial strain stems from a major media company that has secured broadcast, streaming and commercial rights not only for the PSL but also for PCB-administered international cricket. The company allegedly defaulted on payments of around PKR 4.5 billion, citing significant financial losses. The impact of this failure was severe and affected PCB’s ability to maintain updated financial records and complete audits on time.
The new ownership of Multan Sultans has fully met its financial obligations. They paid all the franchise fees and related fees before the start of PSL 11 which ended recently. However, this also creates a new financial responsibility for the PCB as they now have to provide these franchises with a guaranteed minimum payment of around PKR 85 million per season from the central revenue pool for the next few editions.
The board’s challenges are further compounded by other defaulting partners who have purchased sponsorship packages, advertising slots and media inventory but have yet to make their payments. Adding another layer of complexity, the PCB sold the broadcast and streaming rights for PSL 11 to a new entity that also owns the Rawalpindi franchise. That entity subsequently sub-licensed the rights back to the same company, which is already in arrears, creating a circular financial problem that PCB must now resolve.
Overall, the PCB’s recovery efforts reflect a broader effort to enforce accountability, stabilize cash flows and ensure the long-term sustainability of the league and Pakistan cricket.
– The end
Published on:
May 6, 2026 5:36 PM IST
