Indian broadcaster IMG-Reliance pulls out of PSL

By
Faizan Lakhani
|

DUBAI: The Pakistan Super League's (PSL) official production company, India's IMG-Reliance, has pulled out of its agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to live-produce the ongoing games of the series' fourth edition.

In a statement issued Sunday, the PCB said IMG-Reliance will not be live-producing matches of the PSL 2019 ‪after Sunday’s‬ matches that are scheduled in Dubai.

“The announcement of the new live broadcast partner is likely to be made on Monday following the signing of a new agreement,” the statement said.

PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan said the organisation has always had a contingency plan in place and that the board was confident to be in a position to announce the new partner on Monday once the formalities are completed.

“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.

"History tells us that sports, particularly cricket, have always played a key role in building bridges between people and countries,” Khan said.

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.