No PSL 2026 for India fans as PCB make big call [Source: @CallMeSheri1_/x]The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to not sell the PSL 2026 broadcast and media rights in India. Last year for the PSL 2025 season, the Sony Sports network had acquired the media rights for Pakistan’s premier T20 competition. PCB’s latest decision comes in the aftermath of the Pakistan team boycotting its Group A match of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup against arch-rivals India on political grounds. Last year, the PCB also confirmed that the Pakistan cricket team will not travel to India for the showpiece event citing “security concerns”, thus prompting the ICC to co-host the tournament with Sri Lanka. India fans deprived of PSL 2026 by Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB The Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB has decided to deprive Indian fans of some high-octane PSL action for this year’s 2026 edition. As per several reports circulating around Pakistan’s cricketing circles on social media, the move is likely been taken as a retaliatory response amid the prevailing geo-political tensions between the two nations. Back in February 2025 last year, the Sony Sports Network had acquired the broadcasting rights of the PSL 2025 season. The network also concurrently secured the rights of PCB’s several home international series, which consisted of Pakistan’s white-ball series against Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and an all-format home assignment against South Africa. The series against Afghanistan, however, was later boycotted by the ACB in the aftermath of a cross-border violence between the two countries. What does India’s PSL isolation means for PCB and India fans With PCB deciding against the idea of selling PSL 2026 media rights in India, the Pakistan board itself will likely suffer significant losses owing to the absence of viewership from Indian audience. In any case, Mohsin Naqvi had put the schedule of PSL 2026 season to run simultaneously with the ever-popular IPL 2026 season in India. With both rival leagues set to run in tandem, Indian viewers will already be expected to gravitate naturally towards the IPL, further limiting PSL’s visibility in the country. Franchises pull out of direct signings In another major PSL 2026 update, several franchises have decided to not rope in players with direct signings. The report indicates that such franchises are opting out of direct signings in a bid to save their purse for the impending PSL 2026 auction. The PSL 2026 auction will be held next week amidst the ongoing 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. India-Pakistan cricketing ties continues to get caught in the crossfire Amidst the prevailing geo-political tensions and last year’s cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan, cricketing ties between the two nations continues to get caught in the crossfire. Earlier this month, the PCB also confirmed that the Pakistan team will not face Team India in their Group A match of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. While the impending boycott will result in a forfeiture of two points for the Pakistan team, the ICC and the BCCI will also suffer significant losses considering India vs Pakistan are generally billed as the “big-ticket” matches of World Cup and Champions Trophy events.
