PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has put the wraps on a three-year deal with UK-based broadcaster Sky Sports. The deal will see Sky broadcast all home international matches and the Pakistan Super League in the UK. The move follows movement in its home country, where PCB inked a deal with state broadcaster Pakistan Television (PTV) to televise its matches domestically.Â
Looking abroad, Pakistan’s cricket team supporters in North America, the Caribbean, Africa and New Zealand will get their fill of the national team’s action. Deals have been secured with Willow TV, Flow Sports, Supersport and Sky Sport respectively to broadcast its matches in those regions.
The lack of action of the Pakistan cricket team at home coupled with political pressure with neighbouring India scuppered a deal it had in place with Sony-owned Ten Sports.Â
Since the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, international teams were weary to visit Pakistan citing safety concerns. Zimbabwe were the first team to tour Pakistan in 2015, and in 2019 New Zealand visited the sub-continent nation. Currently, South Africa is locked in a three match test series in Pakistan.
The return of live sporting competition to Pakistan has boosted the PCB’s bargaining power with global broadcasters. For several years PCB’s adopted home venue was the UAE, with test matches and ODIs being held across Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s international cricket stadiums.