Pakistan’s poor form, 1 bidder: PCB sells domestic broadcasting rights at half price
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was forced to sell its broadcast rights to 25 international domestic matches at around half the reserve price as only state broadcaster PTV made a bid. A reliable source said the PCB had floated a tender for the broadcasting rights with a reserve price a few days ago, but did not allow bidders to bid as a consortium as was done in the recent past.
As no consortium was allowed to bid for the rights, the state-run Pakistan Television Corporation won with a low bid of 350 million, far below the board’s starting price of 600 million rupees.
The latest broadcast deal includes 25 home matches, including five Tests, 14 ODIs and six T20Is.
Pakistan are scheduled to play three T20Is against Sri Lanka this month, followed by a seven-match triangular ODI series involving England. Two Tests against Sri Lanka are scheduled for next month.
“The problem is that the national teams have been underperforming recently and sponsors and advertisers are on the sidelines,” the source said.
The source added that with at least three broadcasters still owing the Council money for previous deals they did as consortiums, the field of interested bidders had narrowed considerably.
“Those broadcasters who are owed money were not prevented from participating in the bidding process, they chose not to participate. The company that had acquired most of the rights for Pakistan cricket in the past also showed no interest,” the source added.
The broadcast rights sold by the PCB currently include three T20 internationals against Ireland in January 2027, followed by a seven-match triangular series involving Ireland and Zimbabwe.
As it stands, Zimbabwe has indicated that it is unable to travel to Pakistan due to its internal problems in the board.
Even though the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League was held earlier this year with two new teams, the PCB did not get the required response for the broadcasting rights. In fact, one broadcaster that brought PSL rights last year still owes the board billions.
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