PCB to host PSL 11 behind closed doors amid govt austerity measures
By Nawaz Gohar ; In alignment with the federal government’s ongoing austerity drive, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially decided to conduct the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on a limited scale. The tournament will be restricted to two venues and held without spectators, raising significant concerns regarding the league’s financial trajectory.
Media reports indicate that ticket sales from the previous season generated approximately Rs 500 million in revenue. Under the new restrictions, this income stream will be entirely eliminated, prompting questions regarding how this substantial deficit will be managed within the league’s financial framework.
In accordance with the PSL’s financial model, gate money is not designated to a single franchise. Instead, it is channeled into a Central Revenue Pool managed by the PCB.
This pool also aggregates earnings from: Broadcasting rights, Corporate sponsorships, Commercial licensing and Distribution Formula and Financial Impact.
The revenue distribution follows a strictly defined formula: the PCB retains a share of just over 5%, while more than 90% of the total pool is distributed equally among the franchises.
To put the figures into perspective, PSL 8 generated a total revenue of approximately Rs 5.62 billion. From this total, the PCB received Rs 580 million, while the remaining funds were distributed among the six franchises, with each team receiving an average share of roughly Rs 840 million.
Since gate money constitutes a vital component of the Central Revenue Pool, its absence would typically result in a diminished payout for every team. However, the PCB has proactively announced that it will absorb the financial shortfall itself, ensuring that the franchises are shielded from the loss of ticket-related income.
