New Delhi: Following its boycott of India in the T20 World Cup 2026, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken another controversial step by blocking the broadcast of the Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 11) in India.
The decision comes despite the PSL 11 global media rights being sold internationally, with the Indian market now excluded. Analysts note that this move may backfire on Pakistan, as most advertisers are Indian, and India represents the largest cricket audience, with over 80% of the country’s 1.4 billion population being cricket viewers.
Rights Sold to Pakistani Company
According to reports, PCB invited bids for global media rights of PSL 11, and Vali Technologies, a company promoting “Made in Pakistan” technology, emerged as the highest bidder. PCB awarded the rights to Vali Technologies for all markets except India for one year.
PSL CEO Salman Nasir stated, “Vali Technologies has purchased the global media rights at a price 149% higher than last year, reflecting the growing brand value and international demand for PSL. We are grateful to Vali Technologies for setting a new benchmark.”
History of Broadcast Issues in India
Last year, Sony Sports and FanCode held the broadcast rights for India but halted the transmission midway following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, reportedly by Pakistani terrorists. All content related to PSL was also removed from their platforms.
This year, PSL 2026 will take place after the T20 World Cup 2026, starting on March 26 and concluding on May 3. The player draft is scheduled for February 11.
The exclusion of India from the broadcast footprint has reignited debates about the intersection of politics and sports, particularly regarding cricket, which enjoys a massive following across the subcontinent.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.