PCB and Facebook sings agreement, PCB will live telecast HBL PSL 6 matches for global cricket lovers
LAHORE: HBL-Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to roll into action from Wednesday (June 9) in Abu Dhabi, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is collaborating with Facebook to bring the event to the global audience via the platform’s Paid Online Events.
The tournament features top cricket players from different nations which sparks a global interest in the event. This exciting partnership with Facebook allows global reach for the HBL PSL, especially in non-traditional cricket markets, like never before. HBL PSL’s latest arrangement with Facebook will not only bring the live action to fans globally for the 20 remaining matches of the HBL PSL 6 but also help the PCB explore newer avenues for revenue generation. Facebook Paid Online Events will help the Board monetize the matches by requiring fans to pay a nominal one-time sign-up fee to access the live broadcast. The broadcast can then be watched anytime.
Policy Lead Pakistan for Facebook, Sehar Tariq said, “We are excited to partner for HBL PSL this year. The league has gained popularity around the world. With support from PCB we have been able to connect HBL PSL’s global fan base to view their matches around the world while also supporting PCB to build a new revenue stream and support their business. We hope that Paid Online Events will enhance the experience of the HBL PSL for all cricket lovers across the world.”
PCB Head of Broadcast Rights and Business Development, Shoaib Naveed said, “Providing fans ease of access and enhancing the viewership of Pakistan cricket globally is a main feature of our broadcast strategy and part of the PCB overall Digital Transformation aims. This partnership for the remaining matches of HBL PSL 6 with Facebook has provided us with a unique platform, and it’s great to be partnering with the largest social media platform in the world.”
In addition to the introduction of Paid Online Events, Facebook is also working with PCB to build various on platform business opportunities and safety aspects for their players and in March 2021 had hosted a training programme for the Pakistan women’s national team to help them understand and unlock the value of online presence, along with the safety measures.
The 20 matches of the PSL 2020 will be played in Abu Dhabi and fans will have to pay a “one-time sign-up fee” to access the live broadcast, sportsbusiness.com reported.
PCB hopes that the live broadcast of matches on Facebook will attract a global audience from the region where the board does not have rights agreements.
Markets that will not be able to use Facebook’s Paid Online Events service include the US, Canada, Caribbean, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives, the publication reported.
However, the PCB said the move will help monetise the 20 remaining PSL matches.
Last week, the PCB confirmed that the tournament will resume from June 9 in Abu Dhabi.
There will be six double-headers – five of them during the preliminary round and the sixth on 21 June, when Qualifier and Eliminator 1 matches will be played. These matches will start at 1700 UAE time (1800 PKT time) and 2200 UAE time (2300 PKT time), respectively, while the single-headers will begin at 2000 UAE time (2100 PKT time).
On 9 June, fourth-placed Lahore Qalandars will meet third-placed Islamabad United in what will be the 15th match of the tournament.
The delayed start due to logistical and operational challenges that were beyond the PCB’s control will allow the sides sufficient time to train, practice and gear up for the biggest prize in Pakistan’s cricket calendar.
United and Qalandars resumed training on Wednesday evening, while the other four sides will start training from Thursday. Players and player support personnel, who have completed the mandatory seven-day room isolation and returned three negative tests, are allowed to integrate with their sides and participate in training sessions.
To make this schedule work in the best interest of the event, players, commercial partners and franchises, the PCB, in consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), has agreed to delay the departure of the Pakistan men’s side’s players and players support personnel from Abu Dhabi to 25 June.
The side will arrive on Manchester from where they will be transported to Derby for the mandatory room isolation period and training session. The side will move to Cardiff on 6 July where the first One-Day International will be played on 8 July.
Revised HBL PSL 6 match schedule is (all matches at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. Single matches to start at 2000 UAE time; double-headers to start at 1700 UAE time and 2200 UAE time, respectively):
- 3-8 June – Practice
- 9 June – Lahore Qalandars v Islamabad United
- 10 June – Multan Sultans v Karachi Kings; Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars
- 11 June – Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators
- 12 June – Quetta Gladiators v Peshawar Zalmi
- 13 June – Islamabad United v Lahore Qalandars; Multan Sultans v Peshawar Zalmi
- 14 June – Islamabad United v Karachi Kings
- 15 June – Quetta Gladiators v Lahore Qalandars; Peshawar Zalmi v Karachi Kings
- 16 June – Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators
- 17 June – Islamabad United v Peshawar Zalmi; Karachi Kings v Lahore Qalandars
- 18 June – Multan Sultans v Lahore Qalandars
- 19 June – Quetta Gladiators v Karachi Kings; Multan Sultans v Islamabad United
- 20 June – Practice
- 21 Jun – Qualifier (1 v 2); Eliminator 1 (3 v 4)
- 22 Jun – Eliminator 2 (loser Qualifier v winner Eliminator 1)
- 23 June – Rest/practice
- 24 Jun – Final
The announcement has brought respite to both the stakeholders of the tournament and cricket fans who were eagerly awaiting the return of the league, which was suspended earlier this year in March due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously, the matches were scheduled to start from June 1 in Karachi but a sudden surge in infection caused moving the league to the UAE.
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