PSL 2020 spurs business boom at home

In this Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, photo, a cut-out of a cricketer Shane Watson of Australia, on Feb. 15, 2020, displays along roadside in Karachi, Pakistan. Security concerns stopped foreign cricketers from touring Pakistan four years ago when the country's premier domestic Twenty20 tournament was launched, forcing organizers to stage the event on neutral turf in the United Arab Emirates. In 2020 edition of the PSL in Karachi which started on Thursday Feb 20, 2020, Darren Sammy of the West Indies and Shane Watson of Australia were among 36 foreign cricketers involved in the six franchises. (AP Photo)
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Updated 29 February 2020
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PSL 2020 spurs business boom at home

  • The value of PSL franchises has doubled since the series was launched in 2015, team owners say
  • Pakistan Cricket Board says hosting matches in Pakistan will contribute to the economy 

KARACHI: Five years after its launch, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is being seen as a coming of age for the business of sports in Pakistan and for Pakistani business owners who are staking increasing amounts of money and prestige on sports teams, according to team owners, cricket board officials and sports analysts.

In its fifth year, the Twenty20 PSL competition has become a huge hit in Pakistan, with 80 million viewers, roughly 70 percent of Pakistan’s TV-viewing public, tuning in to watch the final in March last year. The series has also brought 36 foreign players to the country this year, drawn corporate sponsorships from multinational firms and seen the value of the franchises more than double in five years.

When the tournament was announced in September 2015, the cricket board sold five franchises for $93 million. A sixth franchise, the Multan Sultans, was added in 2017 and its rights for seven years were sold for over $40 million, earning the cricket board almost half of what it had earned from the five teams combined four years ago.

The South Asian nation has been largely starved of international cricket since a 2009 attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore killed eight Pakistanis and wounded six players and a British coach. The incident forced Pakistan to play home matches in the United Arab Emirates and led foreign players to refuse to play on Pakistani soil.




Fireworks at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi during the opening ceremony of the Pakistan Super League on Thursday Feb 20, 2020. ( AFP photo )

This year, all PSL matches will be played in Pakistan for the first time.

“The PCB [Pakistan Cricket Board] is confident that all 34 matches taking place across four Pakistan venues for the first time will contribute to the economic health of the country,” PCB spokesman Sami-ul-Hasan told Arab News this week.

“This year will make a lot bigger difference [in PSL’s revenue generation] also because of gate money,” said Salman Iqbal, the CEO of Ary Media group which owns Karachi Kings, the franchise that represents Pakistan’s financial hub of Karachi. “This has doubled the value of all franchises.”

“I had bought my team for $26 million [in 2015] which was the most expensive at that time until Multan Sultan came in. Now the value of my team has doubled to $52 million,” Iqbal added. “Similarly the value of every other team has doubled.”

The title sponsorship from Habib Bank Limited, Pakistan’s biggest bank, has earned the PCB $14.35 million dollars for 2019-21, while the league has drawn corporate sponsorships from multiple multinational firms selling everything from hand sanitisers to carbonated drinks.

In an interview last year, former PCB chairman, Najam Sethi, who launched the series, said PSL was designed as a three-year-financial model and earned nearly $12 million in the first three years. An analysis of PSL’s financial status by an international firm had concluded that the PCB could earn three times more in 2019, he said. A 10-year forecast sees the board making profits of up to $60 million, Sethi had said.

Sports analyst Qamar Ahmed said because the value of the franchises had doubled since 2018, the PSL brand could be worth well over $500 million this year. The PCB spokesman declined to confirm this figure and said the accurate value of the brand would be determined once this year’s edition ended on March 22.

“We [PCB] earned Rs 6 billion during 2018 and 2019 from PSL, and events in New Zealand and Australia,” he said.

In 2018, the PCB announced that PSL had secured a TV and digital streaming rights deal worth approximately US $36 million, which will run from 2019 to 2022. A consortium of Blitz Advertising and Techfront beat five other bidders, including the state channel Pakistan Television (PTV) and Ten Sports, which hold rights to Pakistan’s international cricket.

In an interview last year, a PCB spokesman told Arab News that the deal was “358 percent higher than the previous three years.”


During Tajikistan visit, Pakistan PM urges world to hold India accountable for ‘acts of war’

Updated 5 min 19 sec ago
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During Tajikistan visit, Pakistan PM urges world to hold India accountable for ‘acts of war’

  • Shehbaz Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe
  • He will attend a glacier preservation conference in Tajikistan, present Pakistan’s stance on climate change

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged the international community to hold India accountable for what he described as “acts of war” earlier this month, saying the region could not afford New Delhi’s “irresponsible and unlawful actions.”

Sharif made the remarks during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, where the two leaders discussed regional security, economic ties and cooperation on climate issues.

His statement came just days after a military confrontation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which saw the two countries exchange missile, drone and artillery fire between them.

Sharif arrived in Tajikistan’s capital on the final leg of a five-day regional diplomacy tour that earlier took him to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, as Islamabad seeks to reinforce strategic ties and shore up support following the South Asian standoff.

He was received in Dushanbe by Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda and later attended a bilateral meeting with President Rahmon at the Qasr-e-Millat.

“The Prime Minister underscored that our region could not afford India’s irresponsible and unlawful actions since 7 May 2025, which amounted to acts of war and violation the UN Charter and international law,” a statement released by his office said after the meeting. “The Prime Minister urged the international community to hold India accountable, reiterating that Pakistan desires peace, but will defend its sovereignty with full resolve if challenged.”

President Rahmon, expressing concern over the recent conflict, said he was “very worried” about the events of early May and praised Sharif’s leadership in helping restore peace and stability. He also called Pakistan a “trusted partner” and reaffirmed Tajikistan’s commitment to deepening cooperation across all sectors.

The two leaders reviewed progress under the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2024 and pledged to expand collaboration in trade, defense, education, technology and counterterrorism. They also agreed to accelerate work on the CASA-1000 energy project, a regional initiative to transmit surplus hydroelectric power from Central Asia to South Asia, which they termed a “pivotal initiative” for regional integration.

Sharif underscored Pakistan’s push for deeper connectivity with Central Asia through infrastructure and transit links, citing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a linchpin of that strategy. He also briefed the Tajik president on Pakistan’s role in regional peace efforts and acknowledged Tajikistan’s leadership in water diplomacy and glacier preservation.

The Pakistani prime minister is in Dushanbe to attend the International High-Level Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, where he is expected to speak on the impact of climate change on Pakistan and call for stronger global cooperation on environmental issues.

Earlier this week, Sharif held talks in Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan, including a trilateral summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Lachin, where the three leaders pledged to deepen regional cooperation and transform fraternal ties into a strategic partnership.


Pakistani high court to hear Imran Khan’s appeal in Al-Qadir land bribe case on June 5

Updated 29 May 2025
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Pakistani high court to hear Imran Khan’s appeal in Al-Qadir land bribe case on June 5

  • Khan and his wife Bushra were sentenced four months ago, call the case politically motivated
  • Authorities say they used Al-Qadir trust to receive land as a bribe from a real estate developer

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will take up the Al-Qadir Trust case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife on June 5, marking the first hearing since the couple was sentenced over four months ago, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said Thursday.

A Pakistani court sentenced Khan to 14 years and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in prison last January. The centers on allegations that they received land as a bribe from real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain through their charitable foundation, the Al-Qadir Trust.

The trust, founded in 2018 while Khan was still in office, is accused by authorities of being used as a front for illegal benefits.

The PTI has long maintained the case lacks merit and repeatedly requested the high court to hear their petition to suspend the convictions. This is the first time the IHC has scheduled proceedings since the lower court verdict in January, which was delayed at least three times before being delivered.

“Al-Qadir Trust case is scheduled for hearing on June 5,” the PTI said in a statement during the day.

The hearing will be conducted by a two-member IHC bench led by acting Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, according to the court’s cause list.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court earlier this week, said the party had met with the chief justice to press for the case to be listed.

“Release [of Khan and his wife] will take place once the case is heard,” Gohar told reporters. “We still hope the case will be heard on June 5.”

The Al-Qadir case stems from £190 million that the UK repatriated to Pakistan in 2019 after the Pakistani real estate tycoon settled a British investigation into suspected criminal assets.

Authorities allege that instead of depositing the funds in Pakistan’s national treasury, Khan’s government used the money to help Hussain pay court-imposed fines in a separate case related to land acquired illegally in Karachi at below-market rates.

Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing a slew of legal cases, says all charges against him are politically motivated.

He accuses Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s powerful military of orchestrating the crackdown to sideline him, a claim both Sharif and military officials deny.


Army chief calls water Pakistan’s ‘red line,’ rejects any deal on Kashmir

Updated 29 May 2025
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Army chief calls water Pakistan’s ‘red line,’ rejects any deal on Kashmir

  • Field Marshal Asim Munir addresses university academics at the inaugural Hilal Talks forum
  • He urges them to pass on Pakistan’s story and help shape the character of future generations

KARACHI: Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Thursday called water his country’s “red line” and ruled out any deal on Kashmir during an address to university academics at the military’s inaugural Hilal Talks forum.

The forum is designed to engage Pakistan’s academic community on national and regional issues, where the army chief spoke just days after a military standoff with nuclear-armed India in which both sides resorted to missile, drone and artillery strikes.

Munir’s statement followed India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a World Bank-brokered agreement that has governed water-sharing between the two countries since 1960. Kashmir, a Himalayan region claimed by both India and Pakistan but ruled in parts, also remains a major flashpoint between both states.

“No deal on Kashmir is possible,” the army chief was quoted as saying by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), while addressing the forum. “We can never forget Kashmir.”

“Water is Pakistan’s red line,” he continued, “and we will never compromise on the basic right of 240 million Pakistanis.”

Munir said Pakistan would never accept India’s dominance, adding New Delhi had tried to suppress the Kashmir issue for decades but that was no longer possible.

The army chief spoke at the Army Auditorium in Rawalpindi where he was joined virtually by over 1,800 participants, including vice chancellors, senior faculty and students from across Pakistan.

Hilal Talks is a newly launched initiative aimed at fostering sustained dialogue between Pakistan’s military and its academic institutions, with a focus on national harmony.

Munir urged educators to serve as custodians of Pakistan’s story and builders of future generations.

“Teachers are Pakistan’s greatest asset,” he said. “Whatever I am today, it is because of my parents and my teachers.”

This combination of photos shows Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir speaking to university academics during a “Hilal Talks” forum at the Army Auditorium in Rawalpindi on May 29, 2025. (Handout/ISPR)

“You are the ones who must pass on Pakistan’s story to the next generation,” he added. “It is your responsibility to shape [students’] character.”

The army chief reiterated India was stoking unrest in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, saying, “The terrorist insurgents in Balochistan are a foreign-backed menace and have nothing to do with the local population.”

He said it was important for Pakistan to become a strong state where all institutions operate within their constitutional limits and without political, financial or personal interference.

“We must reject any narrative that seeks to weaken the state,” he added.


Pakistan eyes carbon market partnership with ADB to advance climate goals

Updated 29 May 2025
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Pakistan eyes carbon market partnership with ADB to advance climate goals

  • Carbon markets reduce emissions by letting countries buy and sell tradable ‘carbon credits’
  • Pakistan introduced its first carbon market policy last year to drive a low-carbon transition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Dr. Musadik Malik on Thursday met with a high-level Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegation to explore potential collaboration on carbon markets as part of the country’s evolving climate strategy, said in an official statement.

The visiting team was led by Toru Kubo, ADB’s Senior Director for Climate Change and Sustainable Development. The discussions focused on leveraging carbon markets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and attract new streams of climate finance for sustainable development.

Carbon markets are trading systems that allow countries, companies or organizations to buy and sell carbon credits or permits representing the right to emit a specific amount of carbon dioxide. These markets create financial incentives for reducing emissions and investing in greener alternatives.

“Both sides agreed to formulate a comprehensive, mutually aligned climate change strategy, with a specific focus on carbon credit mobilization, climate innovation and outcomes-based project implementation,” the climate change ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also explored ways for Pakistan to strategically align its carbon finance agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to turn climate action into a driver of economic growth, it added.

On the occasion, Malik assured the ADB of full support in the strategy formulation, emphasizing that it should remain “impact-driven, transparent and results-oriented.”

Kubo highlighted ADB’s support for developing member countries, including Pakistan, by enhancing their carbon finance capabilities through mobilizing investments in low-carbon technologies, enabling them to access and benefit from global carbon markets.

The ministry said the meeting showed that climate action is now seen as a way to boost the economy, not just an environmental measure, with more countries paying attention to carbon markets.

Pakistan unveiled the country’s first National Carbon Market Policy in November 2024, saying that the government wanted to attract investments in green initiatives and transition toward a low-carbon economy.

According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is ranked as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change.

In 2022, devastating floods claimed about 1,700 lives and affected more than 33 million people, causing economic losses exceeding $30 billion.

Although international donors pledged over $9 billion to support Pakistan’s flood recovery, officials report that only a small portion of the promised funds were received by the country.


Pakistan secures Hajj facilities upgrade through deal with Saudi Al-Rajhi company

Updated 29 May 2025
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Pakistan secures Hajj facilities upgrade through deal with Saudi Al-Rajhi company

  • Nearly 114,700 Pakistanis will perform Hajj, including 89,000 under the government scheme and 25,700 privately
  • Tents have been equipped with ACs, fans, partitioned sofa-beds, sliding doors and luggage racks for added comfort

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has finalized arrangements for its Hajj pilgrims in coordination with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Rajhi company, upgrading tents and amenities at key pilgrimage sites under a new agreement aimed at improving services for those traveling under the Government Hajj Scheme, an official confirmed Thursday.

The deal with Al-Rajhi, a licensed Tawafa company responsible for assisting foreign pilgrims in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, marks a significant step in elevating standards traditionally reserved for private tour groups.

The move comes as Pakistan seeks to improve the experience for nearly 89,000 pilgrims performing Hajj this year under the state-run scheme.

In total, 114,698 Pakistanis are expected to perform Hajj beginning June 4, including 25,698 under private operators. As of Thursday, 84,638 government-sponsored pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia on 329 flights, while 17,959 private pilgrims had also reached the kingdom.

Pre-Hajj flight operations are scheduled to conclude on May 31.

“An agreement was signed with the Tawafa company Al-Rajhi for Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, and all arrangements and facilities at the sacred sites are being finalized for this year’s Hajj,” Muhammad Umer Butt, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News from Makkah over the phone.

Officials from Pakistani Hajj Mission brief Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousaf about this year’s Hajj arrangement at the Pakistani camps in Mina, Saudi Arabia on May 29, 2025. (Handout/MORA)

He said pilgrims under the Government Hajj Scheme will now benefit from upgraded camp infrastructure.

“Air conditioners and extra fans have been added to the tents along with air coolers,” he informed, adding that modern sofa-cum-beds with partitions on both sides have been introduced to prevent the spread of infections caused by breathing or sweating.

Additional improvements include luggage racks, sliding doors in place of traditional tarpaulin sheets, gypsum board tent walls, artificial grass carpeting in corridors, protective sunshades, fans along walkways and designated shoe racks.

For the first time, Pakistani medical teams will be stationed at each camp to provide support in addition to Saudi medical services.

“A first aid team will be added to every camp, where doctors and medical staff will be available at all times,” Butt said.

He said Pakistan’s Hajj mission had also worked closely with Saudi authorities and the Maktab system to implement a transport strategy across the sacred sites, or Mashair, to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims.

“Saudi authorities have issued special instructions to protect pilgrims from the extreme weather conditions, and our mission ensures that these instructions are communicated clearly and understandably to all Pakistani pilgrims,” he added.

A dedicated complaint management cell has been set up to address pilgrims’ concerns in real time.

“A total of 2,241 complaints were received regarding lost luggage, out of which 2,209 were resolved with the luggage delivered to the concerned pilgrims,” Butt said.

“In Madinah, 636 bags were misplaced during handling, of which 630 were recovered and returned,” he continued.

He said that around two dozen pilgrims who had gone missing from their groups in Makkah and Madinah were also successfully located and reunited.

More than 39,000 Pakistani pilgrims completed their visit to Riyad al-Jannah — the sacred area in Masjid al-Nabawi believed to be a garden from Paradise — mostly using the official Nusuk app in Madinah.

For those unfamiliar with the digital system, special permits were arranged for 14,000 individuals.

Butt praised Saudi Arabia’s digital Hajj infrastructure and logistical planning, which he said had greatly eased the pilgrimage experience for visitors from around the world.