Opportunity for PCB as broadcast rights war intensifies in England
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The cash-strapped Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stands to benefit from an intensified battle between BT Sport and Sky Sports for broadcast rights to England's upcoming series against Pakistan, British media reported.
The bidding war for its overseas rights presents a golden opportunity for the PCB to drive up the price after Pakistan's 'home' series against India later this year seems an unlikely proposition amid the prevailing political tensions.
Sky, Britain’s well known group of sport television channels, stands to lose rights to broadcast in England the upcoming Pakistan series as its competitor, BT Sport, is making moves in grabbing more live content after its success in securing the coverage of next Ashes in 2017-18, a report published by The Telegraph said.
According to the report, it is the first time since 1990 that Sky has lost rights to broadcast an England tour.
Although Sky has already signed deals for major England tours to the Caribbean, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka along with International Cricket Council (ICC) global events until 2023, the Pakistan series along with a Test series in Bangladesh in 2016 is still open for bidding.
BT Sport, meanwhile, has its eyes on grabbing the rights for available tours to position it well before the Ashes beginning in two years time.
Last year, the PCB, under Najam Sethi, claimed Pakistan were set for $450 million windfall from the six Pakistan-India series which would be played in the next eight years.
Pakistan, according to a deal between Sethi and the BCCI, would have hosted four of those series. But as things stand, the fate of a bilateral series between the two teams remains uncertain, a development which would hit the PCB's pockets severely.
Since 2007, India have not played a bilateral Test series with Pakistan mainly due to political reasons, particularly after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks which led to suspension of cricketing ties.
The two countries played one short series of three ODIs and two T20 matches in India in December 2012 but otherwise they have met only in ICC events or the Asia Cup.
