Kamal Ghorui
The Pakistan Cricket Board is facing mounting financial pressure as it looks to recover billions in unpaid dues from multiple stakeholders, even as franchises in the Pakistan Super League push for their pending revenue shares, according to a PTI report. The board has reportedly issued legal notices to several entities, including PSL teams, broadcast partners and commercial associates, asking them to clear outstanding payments or risk serious consequences such as contract termination. The move comes as the PCB attempts to stabilise its finances amid delays in incoming funds. “Initially, some defaulting franchises of the Pakistan Super League were also sent notices to clear their outstanding annual fees or face action. These franchises have now cleared their dues but also asked the board to clear their share from the central pool for the franchises pending since 2010,” a PCB source said while speaking to PTI. The situation appears to be a two-way standoff. While franchises have begun settling their own dues, they have also raised concerns about payments owed to them by the board. One team, according to the report, flagged that it had not received its full entitlement of around PKR 96 crore (Rs 32.74 crore) from the central revenue pool for the league’s 10th edition. In response, the PCB has maintained that it cannot release pending payments until it receives funds from its own contractual partners. The delay has created a backlog, with the board still owing some franchises between PKR 40 to 45 crore from last year’s central pool distributions. A major part of the financial strain stems from a key rights holder. As per the report, the biggest defaulter is a company that secured broadcast, media and commercial rights for the PSL as well as international cricket, but has yet to clear dues of approximately PKR 4.5 billion after claiming heavy losses. “Because of this, the board hasn’t been able to keep its financial records up to date and audit its accounts,” the source added. The ongoing dispute highlights a broader financial logjam within the PSL ecosystem, with payments stuck at multiple levels. While the PCB pushes to recover its dues, franchises continue to wait for their rightful share, leaving the league’s financial structure under significant strain.
