Pakistan Cricket Board Sells Broadcasting Rights for USD 150 Million
Sources say Paksitan Cricket Board's lucrative broadcasting rights deal depends on whether Pakistan can have the coveted home series against India on neutral venue.
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 said 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. (Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi available for ICC President's post)
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 then 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 then although, Pakistan toured India for a short one-day series in the winter of 2012-13, the PCB didn't earn anything from it.