Much before IMG-Reliance decided to opt out of the Pakistan Super League Season 4 production agreement, DSport had declined to broadcast the PSL in India in spite of having paid the media rights fee to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
DSport is the live and exclusive broadcaster for the Pakistan Super League. The Pakistan Cricket Board-owned league has a considerable broadcast interest in India. The broadcaster had also signed on-air sponsorship deals for the league. Still ignoring its major commercial interests, one of India's leading sports broadcaster had decided to pull out the plug on the PSL broadcast after Pakistan-supported Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists had triggered an EID blast which martyred 42 CRFP Jawans in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Commercially it might have been a tough call. For us national interests are paramount. It was a unanimous decision to not to broadcast the PCB-owned league when the terrorist outfits from that country are slaying our soldiers," DSport MD & CEO RC Venkateish told insidesport.co.
"We don't want to mix politics with sports. But how is it possible that we run the pictures of our slain martyrs on one channel and Pakistan cricket on out sports network. Commercial considerations are important. But these cannot be more important than out national interest," adds Venkateish.
DSport did not broadcast the Islamabad United versus Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars versus Karachi Kings ties on Saturday, February 16. When the PSL was blacked out in India on the second successive day yesterday, it was confirmed that the Discovery Network-backed sports broadcaster has opted out of the PSL.
There are not league games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. While the PCB is running around to find a broadcast partner, it is confirmed that the league will now have no broadcaster in India.