Four companies are battling to secure the broadcasting rights for Pakistan’s cricket series against South Africa and Sri Lanka in the UAE later this year, according to the Express Tribune.
The newspaper said the Nimbus Communications agency, Indian subcontinent pay-television broadcaster Ten Sports, Pakistani pay-television broadcaster Geo Super and public-service broadcaster PTV Sports are the companies to have tabled bids with the Pakistan Cricket Board. The former two are understood to be the front-runners for the rights.
The PCB is said to be considering splitting its rights distribution, opening up the possibility of different broadcasters claiming the rights for the two series.
Last week the PCB appointed professional services company Ernst & Young to oversee its rights-selling process.
Pakistan hosts South Africa for two Test matches, five one-day internationals and a pair of Twenty20 encounters between October 8 and November 15, while Sri Lanka contests five ODIs and three Tests after two games in the sport’s shortest format in a schedule spanning December 11 to January 20.