Pakistan’s interim government has come down hard on betting companies. With many gambling companies sponsoring Pakistan Super League franchises through surrogate entities, it’s trouble for PSL 2024 as well. In a strong advisory, the government has asked teams to terminate all associations with companies that deal in casinos, betting and gambling. Earlier, the BCCI as instructed by the Indian government banned all surrogate companies from sponsoring IPL franchises.
Some franchises like Multan Sultans have sponsors such as Wolf777 News, which is a surrogate company of Wolf777 betting company. Mohammad Rizwan also refused to endorse the brand and covered the logo on his jersey during Pakistan Super League games. 1Xbat, MelBat and Dafa News are three other companies that have associations with betting entities.
“These are originally gambling, betting and casino companies. Such operations are mostly run from some hostile countries with the motive to destroy the moral fabric of Pakistan to introduce corruption in Pakistan team and to put Pakistan into further economic turmoil through moving untaxed money out of the country in dollars,” the government said in a letter addressed to the PCB, PEMRA, PTV, PBC, PTA and SECP.
Why trouble for franchises ahead of PSL 2024?
Such betting companies provide better sponsorship deals to teams than traditional businesses. With Pakistan’s economy already in turmoil, franchises will find it difficult to get sponsorships with equal or better value than those surrogate companies provide.
But the advisory is not just for PSL franchises though. The government has also asked online media, private leagues as well and television channels to refrain from making any agreements.
“Pakistan Cricket Board, Pakistan Super League, PSL franchises, club cricket, private leagues, television channels, radio broadcasters, internet platforms, newspapers, magazines and other media or advertisement platforms are strictly advised to not make any agreements and business relations with such surrogate companies and to not promote them through any kind of advertisement,” the advisory read.
No decision on venue
Meanwhile, PSL 2024 is also facing uncertainty over the venue. With Pakistan general elections slated for early next year, the PSL governing council has set February 8 to March 24 as the window. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board hasn’t yet come up with a concrete plan on the venues.
While the PCB proposed UAE or Qatar as options, PSL franchises have shot it down. Instead, they want PSL 2024 to happen in Pakistan. But with clash likely with ILT20 and SA20, the PCB is in dilemma over possible dates as well as venue.
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