Broadcasters Pull Plug, PSL Affected by Pulwama Attack Protests

IMG Reliance, DSport, Cricbuzz: Indian media outlets begin boycott of PSL 2019.

Captains of the six franchises pose with the trophy ahead of the start of PSL 2019.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/PakistanSuperLeague)

IMG Reliance has pulled out from broadcasting the Pakistan Super League as several Indian outlets protest against the Pulwama terror attack.

40 CRPF jawans were killed on Thursday, 14 February, while some others are battling for their lives, in what was the deadliest terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir in three decades – and IMG Reliance’s decision echoes what appears to be the popular sentiment in India: stop all forms of contact with Pakistan.

DSport, the official broadcaster of the PSL in India, had earlier blacked out the coverage of matches in the country from Sunday, 17 February, while Cricbuzz has stopped reporting PSL games apart from deleting all of its previous PSL content.

Pulwama Protests – PSL Boycott in India

• IMG Reliance: Broadcasters and sole worldwide producers of PSL 2019 pull out
• DSport: Official India broadcasters black out PSL 2019 coverage
• Cricbuzz: Leading website stops any and all coverage of PSL 2019
• Dream11: Fantasy sports platform suspends all further PSL 2019 games

“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 occured is deeply regrettable.”

IMG Reliance mail to PCB (accessed by PTI)

With IMG Reliance being the sole worldwide producers of the event, the development means the PSL will go off air globally until the Pakistan Cricket Board manages to rope in an alternate production house.

“The PCB always had a contingency plan in place, and we are confident we will be in a position to announce the new partner on Monday after the completion of the formalities,” PCB's Managing Director Wasim Khan said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The fourth edition of the PSL got underway in Dubai on Thursday – the day of the ghastly attack in Pulwama. The six-team tournament is being held in UAE for its vast majority, before moving to Pakistan for the final eight matches, including the summit clash in Karachi.

(With inputs from PTI)