DSports stops PSL broadcast in India in the wake of Pulwama attack

DSports stopped the broadcast of PSL matches in India from Saturday, which was the third day of the fourth edition of the tournament in the wake of the Pulwama attack.

In a mark of protest to the Pulwama attack that killed 40 Indian soldiers, the official broadcaster of Pakistan Super League, DSports has decided to stop the airing of PSL matches in India with immediate effect.

DSports stopped the broadcast of PSL matches in India from Saturday, which was the third day of the fourth edition of PSL. PSL 2019 kick-started on February 14, the day an explosive-laden SUV rammed into a CRFP bus which was part of a 72-vehicle convoy in Kashmir’s Pulwama district, killing 40 and injuring many.

In a first of its kind move, DSport surprised everyone by not telecasting the Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings match, which had started at 9.30 pm on Saturday. The official confirmation came afterwards. “We’ve suspended the broadcast of PSL,” a top channel official told Mirror late on Saturday night.

“We’re seized of the matter and it is a topic that is occupying our minds. We’re sensitive to the national issues and we’re considering how to do it. There are a few technical issues involved,” the official added. Though DSport's schedule shows "PSL LIVE from 5 PM' the match between Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators will not be aired on the channel. 

The channel was to blackout the tournament from Friday night itself but had some technical issues. The India feed was apparently linked to some other countries as well and extricating the India feed from the other countries was not immediately possible.

The PSL, into its fourth edition, had troubles right from the onset. First, international rapper Pitbull pulled out of the opening ceremony of PSL at the last moment citing technical reasons and now the tournament won’t be aired in India.

India tightened the screws on Pakistan ever since news of the attack broke out. The Indian government withdrew the ‘Most Favoured Nation (MNF)’ status from Pakistan and Customs duties on all goods imported from Pakistan were hiked to 200 per cent with immediate effect.