Karachi, Pakistan – Web Desk: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could secure the most lucrative commercial deal in the country’s cricket history as interest in Pakistan Super League (PSL) media rights intensifies, potentially adding billions of rupees to its revenues.
According to sources, a PSL franchise-backed company is considering a record bid of around Rs4.5 billion per year for broadcast rights, which could translate into a four-year contract worth up to Rs18 billion. If live-streaming rights are included, the total value could rise further, making it the biggest media deal in Pakistan cricket history.
The PCB recently invited bids for four-year PSL media rights, attracting multiple parties. However, two major sports channels were reportedly disqualified after failing to clear outstanding dues of around Rs4.7 billion and over Rs600 million, respectively.
Sources said the company that acquired a PSL franchise is also keen to secure media rights and may submit a record-breaking bid. Estimates suggest live-streaming rights alone could fetch up to Rs7 billion, potentially pushing the overall deal value to unprecedented levels.
To prevent collusion among broadcasters, the PCB did not allow consortium bids this time. If successful, the company may use state television infrastructure for broadcast distribution. Bidders were allowed to bid separately for broadcast and live-streaming rights, with bid security set at Rs100 million for each category.
The reserve price has not been disclosed, but industry estimates suggest it could be close to Rs18 billion for broadcast rights, while live-streaming rights may have a reserve price of around Rs6 billion. The PSL is expected to expand to 44 matches per season with the addition of two new teams, significantly increasing commercial value over the four-year cycle.
Under PCB rules, after production costs, any broadcast deal exceeding Rs3 billion will allocate $500,000 for signing overseas icon players, with remaining revenue split 80% for PCB and 20% for franchises. Production costs exceeded Rs1 billion in the previous season, while the PSL’s 11th edition is scheduled to begin on March 26.
