IPL 2019: ‘It will be a loss for Indian cricket’ – Pakistan ban broadcast of IPL matches

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chepauk in IPL opener.

The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) begins on Saturday but it won’t be telecast in Pakistan according to their Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry.

File image of CSK players celebrating after winning IPL 2018 final. (PTI)

This comes after the telecast of Pakistan Super League 2019 was stopped in India by the official broadcasters following the dastardly Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans last month.

“During the PSL, the way the Indian companies and the government treated Pakistan cricket... after that, we can’t tolerate that IPL is shown in Pakistan,” Chaudhry told a Pakistan news channel.

“We tried to keep politics and cricket apart but then the Indian cricket team played matches wearing army caps against Australia.

“There was no action taken against that. I feel if IPL is not shown in Pakistan it will be a loss for IPL and Indian cricket. We are a cricketing superpower in international cricket,” the minister added.

The upcoming edition of the IPL is scheduled to be played from March 23 to May 4. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chepauk in IPL opener.

The schedule was released in parts by the BCCI owing to the General Elections which will he held around the same time. The final group match will be played between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.