PCB sells broadcasting rights of international matches

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has managed to sell the broadcasting rights of its international matches for approximately USD 150 million for the next five years. A well-informed source in the board told PTI on Wednesday that Ten Sports and Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) had submitted a joint bid that was accepted by the bid committee of the board.

“The board of governors has also ratified the bid,” he said.

The source said that however the entire deal was dependent on whether Pakistan can have the coveted home series against India on neutral venue.

“If India does not play Pakistan in this period than atleast 60 percent of the total bid amount will be reduced by the successful broadcasters,” he said.

The source said that the amount that PCB had got was mainly due to the fact that its international calendar for next five-years included two home series against India.

“Even when the broadcasting rights were sold on long term basis last time the PCB lost out on nearly 70 percent of its total bid amount because India didn’t agree to play any bilateral series in the period of the contract,” the source added.

India has not played a full bilateral test series against Pakistan since 2007 when Pakistan toured India. Since than although Pakistan toured India for a short one-day series in the winter of 2012-13, the PCB didn’t earn anything from it.

The source also dismissed reports that the PCB would get a share of just $10. The USD 8 million from the ICC as its share of the World Cup earnings.

“No those figures are incorrect because the ICC is still in the process of carrying out a audit of the World Cup and until now it is not clear how much share Pakistan will get from the World Cup earnings.”

The source insisted Pakistan’s share would be in excess of $15 million.