The Shifting Sands of India-Pakistan Cricket Relations

The initial uproar centered on the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and team owner Kavya Maran, who faced intense criticism for drafting Abrar Ahmed during The Hundred auction. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar even issued a strongly worded statement, suggesting potential repercussions if Pakistan were to inflict harm on Indian citizens – a sentiment that amplified the existing tensions. Gavaskar’s comments sparked widespread debate about the ethics of sporting ties with a nation perceived as a security threat.

However, the focus has now shifted to Cricbuzz, one of the world’s leading cricket news websites, and its parent companies. Walee Technologies announced Cricbuzz as the official broadcast partner for the PSL 2026 season in North America and MENA regions. This four-year media rights deal, valued at INR 851 crore, represents a significant financial commitment.

Cricbuzz is majority-owned by the Times Group, which also controls prominent Indian news outlets like the Times of India and the Economic Times. Furthermore, Dream Sports, the parent company of Dream11, holds a substantial $50 million (approximately INR 468 crore) investment in Cricbuzz and Willow TV by Cricbuzz. This complex web of ownership raises questions about the consistency of nationalistic sentiment when weighed against financial interests.

The Times Group’s Expanding Influence

The Times Group is currently vying for ownership of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), further solidifying its position as a major player in Indian cricket. While the public outcry over Sunrisers’ decision was significant, the Times Group’s broader influence – owning over 30 news portals across India – arguably has a far greater impact on public perception and national discourse.

Adding another layer to the complexity, Cricbuzz was recently announced as the official cricket app partner for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the 2026 IPL season. This partnership is particularly ironic given RCB’s previous stance. Just last year, RCB publicly expressed solidarity with India following the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025.

Perhaps the most striking contradiction lies within Cricbuzz’s own history. The outlet previously delisted the PSL from its coverage, citing similar concerns to those expressed by RCB. Yet, less than a year later, Cricbuzz, along with its parent companies, has embraced a lucrative partnership with the very league it once distanced itself from. Is this a genuine shift in perspective, or a calculated business decision?

The core issue isn’t necessarily about nationalism or patriotism, but rather about perception and signaling. Cricbuzz’s initial withdrawal from PSL coverage appears to have been driven by a fear of backlash and potential financial losses, rather than a deeply held conviction. Now, with a substantial financial stake in the league, those concerns seem to have dissipated.

The public reaction to Sunrisers and Kavya Maran was swift and often harsh. However, will the same level of scrutiny be applied to Cricbuzz, a far more influential entity? The financial disparity is stark: SRH spent approximately INR 2.34 crore on Abrar Ahmed, while the PSL deal is worth INR 218 crore annually. Even a conservative estimate of 20% for the North American and MENA markets still represents a tenfold increase over the SRH investment.

And what of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)? Despite ongoing tensions, the BCCI continues to participate in tournaments like the Asia Cup and ICC events alongside Pakistan. The BCCI generated an estimated INR 8,963 crore in revenue during the 2025-26 financial year, dwarfing the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) reported net worth of PKR 1,500 crore. Should the BCCI take a stronger stance, or is the financial incentive too great to ignore? ESPN Cricinfo provides further analysis on BCCI revenue. What responsibility do fans have in holding these powerful organizations accountable?

Ultimately, this situation highlights the complex interplay between sports, politics, and commerce. It forces us to question the sincerity of public displays of nationalism and to examine the motivations behind seemingly contradictory decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions