Amid the ongoing turmoil surrounding the T20 World Cup, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) locked in a standoff with the International Cricket Council (ICC), the board has decided to withhold media rights for the 11th season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the Indian market. The PCB, however, has gone ahead with the sale of international broadcast rights for the league.
PSL 2026 will begin from March 26 (AFP)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
PSL 2026 is scheduled to begin immediately after the T20 World Cup, running from March 26 to May 3, with the players’ auction set to take place on February 11.
Walee Technologies emerged as the highest bidder after surpassing the PCB’s reserve price and was awarded the global media rights for the league, excluding India, on a one-year agreement.
Last season, FanCode and Sony Sports Network held the media rights to broadcast PSL matches in India. However, midway through the tournament, both platforms suspended coverage and removed PSL-related content from their platforms following the Pakistan-linked Pahalgam terror attack in April.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
The deal with Walee Technologies marks a significant 149 per cent increase in media rights value compared to the previous cycle, underlining the PSL’s growing brand value and international footprint.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
The deal with Walee Technologies marks a significant 149 per cent increase in media rights value compared to the previous cycle, underlining the PSL’s growing brand value and international footprint.
{{/usCountry}}
Commenting on the development, PSL CEO Salman Naseer said, “We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the international media rights sale, which has delivered a remarkable 149 per cent increase over the last cycle for the same regions.”
“We are grateful to Walee Technologies for setting new benchmarks. The sustained rise in international media rights value reflects the collective efforts of franchises, players and partners who have helped position the PSL as a globally recognised cricketing property,” he added.
Walee Technologies CEO Muhammad Ahsan Tahir also spoke about acquiring the league’s digital media rights. “This is a victory for every Pakistani who believes in ‘Made in Pakistan’ technology. This is just the beginning of our PSL journey. We have ambitious plans, and we look forward to sharing what lies ahead,” he said.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.
Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.
Home/Cricket/PCB withholds PSL 11 broadcast rights in India as T20 World Cup crisis deepens
{{^htLoading}}
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
{{#usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe
