PCB draws limited response for Australia and New Zealand series rights

The Pakistan Cricket Board has attracted just two bids for the television rights to its national team’s series against Australia and New Zealand later this year, according to the IndianTelevision.com website.

Pakistani public-service broadcaster PTV and pay-television broadcaster Ten Sports, which operates in the Indian subcontinent, submitted bids. PTV’s offer was rejected on account of falling short of the PCB’s asking price, while Ten Sports submitted a bid worth $2.9m (€2.2m).

However, any deal is understood to be at an impasse as Ten Sports refused to up its offer at the PCB’s request.

The rights for the series also include global radio broadcasting, SMS and wireless mobile telephony, along with title sponsorship, presenting sponsorship, co-sponsorship and in-stadium advertising.

Pakistan plays Australia in a Twenty20 International, three one-day internationals and two Test matches from October 5 to November 3, while New Zealand contests three Tests, two T20s and five ODIs between November 11 and December 19. Both series take place in the United Arab Emirates.