Cricket: PSL Coverage Suspended in India by Official Broadcasters
FanCode and Sony Sports Suspend PSL Coverage
The day after the Pahalgam attack, the BCCI went on record to condemn what they labelled a “cowardly act,” while vice president of the Board, Rajeev Shukla, also revealed that there is no scope for India to play Pakistan in the upcoming bilateral series. Shukla said:
"We are with the victims and we condemn it. Whatever our government will say Will do. We don't play with Pakistan in bilateral series because of the government stand. And we will not play with Pakistan in bilaterals going forward. But when it comes to ICC events, we play due to ICC engagement.”
Indian cricketers, including the likes of Virat Kohli of RCB, who are among the favourites to win the ongoing IPL, according to the best online betting sites, took to social media to share their condolences.
On April 23, popular streaming provider FanCode decided to pull the coverage of the Pakistan Super League match between the Multan Sultans and Islamabad United in India and removed all PSL content from its carousel.
Shortly after, the owners of India’s television rights to broadcast PSL matches, Sony Sports, followed suit and blacked out all broadcasts and shows related to the PSL, while neither provided an official statement, nor did they advise on whether coverage might resume.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not responded to the Indian broadcasters’ decision to stop coverage of the PSL in Bharat, but this represents yet another instance where sport is caught in the centre of the ongoing tensions between the countries.
Recap of Pahalgam Attacks and Impact on Ind-Pak Cricket
Pahalgam, a popular and picturesque holiday destination in the Baisaran Valley, turned into a scene out of a horror movie on April 22 when gunmen opened fire on tourists at around 14:30 on Tuesday afternoon.
When the dust settled, 28 tourists were killed and several more were injured, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the region since 2019. Those who were lucky enough to survive the incident reported that the terrorists were wearing army fatigues and singled out their victims based on faith.
Six attackers opened fire on the crowds of people, and it has since been revealed that The Resistance Front (TRF), a known militant group believed to be a part of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, have claimed responsibility for the gruesome attack.
Following the incident, former Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Shesh Paul Vaid accused the Pakistan army of playing a role in the attack, claiming that the terrorists were actually Special Service Group commandos.
Pakistan has denied having any prior knowledge or involvement in the attack, and extended their condolences to the victims and their families, but unsurprisingly, that has not done much to ease the rising tensions between the nations, with several Indian leaders calling for ties to be cut completely between India and Pakistan.
