In a major win for cricket fans across Pakistan, state-run broadcaster PTV Sports has secured exclusive television broadcasting rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events from 2025 to 2027, including the highly anticipated Men’s Asia Cup 2025, now set to take place in the UAE.
“PTV Sports proudly announces the acquisition of television rights in Pakistan for all ACC events from 2025 to 2027!”
The deal includes:
- Men’s Asia Cup 2025 and 2027
- Women’s Asia Cup 2026
- U19 and Emerging Asia Cup tournaments
Asia Cup 2025 – Moved to UAE
The upcoming Men’s Asia Cup 2025, originally slated for India, has officially been relocated to the UAE due to ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan, and concerns from Bangladesh.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from September 9 to 28, 2025.
Challenges with Broadcasting Rights
Earlier reports suggested significant hurdles in acquiring broadcast rights due to exorbitant fees demanded by the Indian-based official rights holder of the Asia Cup. According to sources, Pakistani broadcasters were being asked to pay 25% of the total regional value, despite historically contributing around 10-12%.
This raised fears that no local channel might be able to secure the rights — a possibility that now seems resolved with PTV stepping up.
Statements & Reactions
Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, called the agreement a “landmark achievement” and credited former ACC President Mohsin Naqvi for facilitating the negotiations.
PTV Sports Executive Director, Alia Rasheed, said:
“We are proud to partner with the ACC and bring premium cricketing content to our viewers. This is a win for Pakistan cricket fans.”
Conclusion
With this acquisition, PTV ensures that millions of Pakistani cricket fans will have uninterrupted access to Asia Cup 2025 and other regional tournaments over the next three years. The move also marks a significant comeback for state media amid ongoing market challenges.
