Pakistan’s next package of home international broadcasting rights has been sold to state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) for PKR 350M (approx. US$1.27M), substantially below the Pakistan Cricket Board’s reserve price, according to a report by the Express Tribune’s Saleem Khaliq.
The agreement covers 25 men’s international matches and comes after PTV emerged as the only bidder in the tender process.The PCB had placed a PKR 600M (approx. US$2.17M) reserve price on the rights, meaning the successful bid finished PKR 250M (approx. US$906K) below that benchmark.
The package comprises five Tests, 14 ODIs and six T20Is, giving the PCB an average rights value of PKR 14M (approx. US$51K) per international across the 25 matches.
Broadcasters stay away from PCB tender
The outcome reflects a subdued bidding market for Pakistan’s home internationals. Three major broadcasters with significant outstanding payments to the PCB did not participate, although they had not been prohibited from bidding. Another company that has previously acquired a substantial share of Pakistan cricket rights also stayed away.
The PCB additionally prevented consortiums from bidding for the package, following a similar restriction in the Pakistan Super League.
Pakistan’s recent results and limited public interest in fixtures against Ireland and Sri Lanka were cited among the factors behind the lack of participation in the tender. Separate reporting has put the new package’s per-match value approximately 18% below that of the PCB’s previous home international rights agreement.
That previous cycle, covering August 2024 through December 2026, was acquired by an ARY and Tower Sports consortium and included 61 internationals — 11 Tests, 26 ODIs and 24 T20Is.
Pakistan schedule underpins new rights package
The latest agreement incorporates a range of home assignments across all three formats. Pakistan are scheduled to host Sri Lanka for three T20Is this month before a seven-match triangular ODI series involving England, followed by two Tests against Sri Lanka next month.
Ireland are then scheduled to visit in January 2027 for three T20Is, with another seven-match ODI triangular series involving Zimbabwe also on the calendar. A one-off Test against Ireland is due to follow in February, before New Zealand travel to Pakistan for two Tests across February and March.
There is uncertainty around parts of that schedule. Zimbabwe have declined to tour Pakistan for commercial reasons according to some reports, potentially affecting the planned triangular ODI series, while the one-off Ireland Test could also be cancelled. The PCB has not officially confirmed either development.
The PCB has yet to officially confirm the potential schedule changes involving Zimbabwe and Ireland, leaving the final composition of the home programme covered by the new broadcasting cycle subject to those developments.
