The Pakistan Cricket Board has rejected claims by Tehreek-e-Insaf, the political party chaired by former cricketer Imran Khan, that the correct procedure was not followed for the sale of media rights covering the national team’s ‘home’ series against South Africa and Sri Lanka last year.
The PCB said that the tender was ‘absolutely transparent,’ adding that the board’s chairman, Najam Sethi, ‘did not in any way influence the process.’
“All procedures… were documented well in advance and the independent audit firm also issued a report on the bidding process as well,” the PCB said.
The board added that allegations that public-service broadcaster PTV was ‘prevented’ from bidding were ‘absolutely false.’
“As many as seven broadcasters from around the world obtained bid documents from the PCB for the two series,” the board added. “PTV was also among them. In the end, only two broadcasters came up with actual bids… and (the) PCB followed the laid down procedure by transparently negotiating with both of them to obtain maximum value for itself.”
In September, Indian subcontinent pay-television broadcaster Ten Sports and Pakistani pay-television broadcaster Geo Super acquired the rights to Pakistan’s series against South Africa and Sri Lanka. The two series were played in the UAE, with Pakistan still unable to stage matches due to the security situation in the country.