IMG Reliance will not Broadcast Pakistan Super League

IMG Reliance, the official producers and broadcasters of the Pakistan Super League have decided to pull out and stop the production, in wake of the Pulwama terror attack.
IMG Reliance will not Broadcast Pakistan Super League

Broadcaster IMG Reliance has withdrawn from its contract to produce coverage of the Pakistan Twenty20 league following the deadly Kashmir attack last week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday.

The company was televising the Pakistan Super League, which is being played in the United Arab Emirates because of security concerns, and it was also due to televise the last knockout matches to be held in Karachi and Lahore next month.

Forty-one Indian soldiers were killed in the suicide bombing which was claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group in the Himalayan region which was the deadliest attack in a 30-year-old armed conflict.

The PCB said an announcement of the new live broadcasters of the tournament would be made on Monday.

"The PCB always had a contingency plan in place, and we are confident we will be in a position to announce the new partner," PCB's managing director Wasim Khan said in a statement

"The PCB has also noted the recent turn of events and expresses its extreme disappointment as we have always believed and emphasized that sports and politics should be kept separate," he added.

The PCB said it will take up the matter with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council at a scheduled meeting in Dubai later this month.

India has stalled all bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan since attacks on Mumbai in 2008 which was blamed on militants based across the border.

But the nations have continued to face each other at international tournaments and are scheduled to play in the World Cup in England on June 15 this year.

IMG Reliance Sunday pulled out from broadcasting the Pakistan Super League in protest against the Pulwama terrorist attack.

"Due to unfortunate events a couple of days back which resulted in the death of Indian soldiers, IMG Reliance is pulling out with immediate effects, from offering broadcast production services for PSL. The incident that occurred is deeply regrettable," stated a mail addressed to Sohaib Sheikh and Kamil Khan of Pakistan Cricket Board.

Being the only producers of the event, the development means PSL will go 'off air' unless the PCB brings in alternate production services, an official said.

The fourth edition of PSL got underway in Dubai on Thursday.

The six-team tournament is currently being held in Dubai and Sharjah before moving to Pakistan for final eight matches, including the summit clash in Karachi.

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