The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has kicked off a formal push to recover money from broadcast and business partners who are in arrears, issuing legal notices to multiple parties with dues running into billions of Pakistani rupees. The move comes as the PCB is simultaneously under pressure from Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises for central-pool payments, leaving the board juggling claims on two fronts over one of its key commercial assets.
Quick facts
- The PCB has issued legal notices to defaulting broadcast and business partners to clear pending payments or face legal action.
- PSL franchises are also pressing the PCB over unpaid central-pool shares.
- One major defaulting company linked to securing broadcast, media and business rights for PSL and international cricket is said to owe about PKR 4.5 billion.
- PCB’s internal accounting has reportedly been affected due to the ongoing defaults.
- PCB has guaranteed each PSL franchise a minimum central-pool share of PKR 850 million for five editions starting with PSL 11 in 2026, with PCB covering any shortfall.
In the latest round described in a report, legal notices were reportedly sent to PSL franchises, broadcast partners, and other commercial stakeholders. The demand was straightforward: settle outstanding dues or be prepared for legal proceedings. If arrears remain unresolved, contracts could potentially be cancelled, raising the stakes for both sides.
A PCB source indicated that some PSL teams were also among those initially served with notices as part of the recovery process. The source said that while certain franchises have since cleared their pending annual fees, they also asked the PCB to release their share from the central pool for franchises that have been pending since 2010.
One of the report’s key figures involves a large rights-linked entity. The company associated with managing broadcast, media, and business rights for PSL and international cricket is reported to owe the PCB roughly PKR 4.5 billion, making it one of the biggest names in the arrears list.
Central pool pressure and revenue structure
The financial dispute is being amplified by how PSL money is generated. The league’s revenue model is heavily connected to the central pool, with franchises receiving the bulk of that income and the PCB taking a smaller slice. A separate report in 2021 had suggested that PSL franchises agreed to a revised arrangement, under which they would receive 95% of revenue from streams such as broadcast rights, sponsorship rights, and gate receipts from the seventh edition onward.
Alongside partner dues, the PCB is also facing franchise payment claims tied to what franchises believe they are owed. One franchise has complained that around PKR 96 crore from the PSL 10 central pool has not been released, while the PCB is also said to have outstanding amounts of about PKR 40–45 crore from the PSL 2025 central pool to some franchises.
The source further said the defaults have disrupted the board’s internal accounting processes. As a result, the PCB has reportedly been unable to keep its financial records up to date and complete audits of its accounts.
Fresh obligations for the next PSL cycle
Matters are now more complicated due to new PSL obligations. The PCB has guaranteed each franchise a minimum central-pool payout of PKR 850 million for the next five editions, beginning with PSL 11 in 2026. If a franchise’s share drops below that threshold, the PCB is expected to cover the shortfall, turning the central-pool performance into a direct financial responsibility for the board.
The report also notes that two new PSL franchises, along with the new owners of the Multan Sultans, have reportedly paid their annual franchise fees and other dues ahead of PSL 11. While that clears one set of issues, it creates another: the PCB now must honour the guaranteed minimum payout commitments from the central pool for those franchises for the next four editions after PSL 11.
As the source put it, the new franchises may be “in the clear” on fees, but the PCB still has to pay a guaranteed minimum of 85 crore PKR from PSL 11 and the following four editions through the central pool. That obligation is expected to increase the urgency of stabilising cash flows and settling outstanding receivables.
The concerns do not stop with franchises alone. The source suggested that other defaulting parties have also taken sponsorship, advertising, and media inventory from the PCB but failed to pay as agreed. With multiple streams of income under strain, the PCB’s ability to meet upcoming league commitments is now tied directly to how quickly it can recover arrears.
Overall, the legal-notice campaign places the PCB in a tight commercial position. The board is trying to recover money from partners to improve its finances, while franchises continue to press for delayed central-pool releases. With the next PSL cycle carrying guaranteed minimum payouts, the recovery drive has become central to the PCB’s ability to manage its financial obligations and close its accounts properly.
