As diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan rise following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, around a dozen Indian crew members, including a producer working on the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), have been left stranded in Pakistan.
Both countries have responded by cancelling all valid visas for each other's nationals and ordering those currently in their territories to leave within 48 hours. This tit-for-tat measure has sparked uncertainty around the presence of Indian crew members working on the PSL broadcast.
The PSL’s broadcast partner, Trans-Asia, has conveyed the concerns of its Indian staff to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has sought clarity from the interior ministry. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the interior minister, is expected to weigh in on the matter.
The broadcasters have been in contact with the PCB regarding the status of the crew, including the producer, to understand whether they can remain in Pakistan or if they must leave.
The PCB maintains that the visas issued to the crew were specifically for sports-related activity and therefore should not be affected by the broader diplomatic fallout.
This isn’t the first time broadcast arrangements for the PSL have faced geopolitical hurdles. In 2019, during the tournament’s UAE leg, Indian broadcaster IMG Reliance pulled out of its production deal in the wake of the Pulwama attacks. The PCB later filed for compensation — a legal case that remains unresolved.
Sporting ties between India and Pakistan have been largely frozen since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with bilateral cricket series scrapped and only occasional encounters taking place at neutral venues or ICC events.
While Indian broadcast professionals have traditionally been part of PSL production teams, recent years have seen Pakistan also engage crew from countries like Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malaysia.
We’ve sought advice from the company that hired us,” “Our visas are special, so it seems there shouldn’t be a problem.
Five of the Indian crew members are reportedly residents of the UAE and are not expected to return to India immediately.
