PCB to take up with ICC, BCCI issue of India stopping PSL coverage

DUBAI: Following the stopping of Pakistan Super League’s live coverage by Indian broadcaster after last week’s Pulwama attack, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that it will take up the matter with International Cricket Council and Board of Control for Cricket in India and will announce new live broadcasters.

Indian broadcaster IMG Reliance was televising the Pakistan Super League, which is being played in the United Arab Emirates because of security concerns, and it was also due to televise the last knockout matches to be held in Karachi and Lahore next month.

However, it has now withdrawn from its contract to produce coverage of Pakistan Super League after over 40 Indian soldiers were killed in the suicide bombing in Pulwama, which was the deadliest attack in a 30-year-old armed conflict.

The PCB said an announcement of the new live broadcasters of the tournament would be made on Monday. "The PCB always had a contingency plan in place, and we are confident we will be in a position to announce the new partner," PCB's managing director Wasim Khan said in a statement

"The PCB has also noted the recent turn of events and expresses its extreme disappointment as we have always believed and emphasised that sports and politics should be kept separate," he added.

The PCB said it will take up the matter with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council at a scheduled meeting in Dubai later this month.

India has stalled all bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan since attacks on Mumbai in 2008 which was blamed on militants based across the border. But the nations have continued to face each other at international tournaments and are scheduled to play in the World Cup in England on June 15 this year.