PSL X breaks records with 1.1 billion views in just 12 matches

The tenth season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL X) is making headlines across the globe, but this time, it is not just because of thrilling cricketing clashes as the league has recorded a historic surge of 826.5% in digital live-streaming viewership during the opening week as compared to last season.

According to data compiled by Walee Technologies, PSL X recorded a whopping 1.1 billion views within the first 12 matches, marking a transformative shift in how cricket is consumed in Pakistan, and emerging as one of the most-watched digital sporting events in South Asia.

The opening three games alone attracted a massive 477.7 million livestream views, dwarfing last year's figure of 57.8 million for the same period. The breakdown is as follows:

Match 1: 137.6 million views
Match 2: 253.5 million views
Match 3: 86.5 million views

These numbers are credited to PSL's expanded digital partnerships across platforms, including Daraz, Myco, Tamasha, Tapmad and Begin, offering broader accessibility and mobile-first engagement.

With just 12 matches played, the tournament has surpassed 1.1 billion cumulative views and clocked over 16.25 billion minutes of total watch time. This surge reflects not only the league's widespread popularity but also a deliberate digital-first approach from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), leveraging live streaming, short-form content and on-demand highlights to capture fragmented, fast-moving online audiences.

Meanwhile, the PCB's official digital media channels have also recorded exceptional growth across all platforms with over 1.4 billion views across Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and X.

The content strategy behind this includes a powerful mix of match highlights, player features, behind-the-scenes content and fan-focused reels that resonate particularly well with Gen Z and millennial viewers.

As PSL celebrates its 10th year, it’s also laying down the foundation of a digitally empowered future for Pakistani sports broadcasting. The blend of accessibility, multi-platform content and interactive fan experiences is turning PSL into a global digital property.

IPL STREAMING BAN

Separately, amid tensions with India, the government has officially banned the online streaming of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on local platforms. This decision comes after India banned the online streaming of the PSL in the country.

According to a government order, popular streaming platforms like Tapmad have already taken down IPL matches from their websites. The ban is said to have been imposed on Friday night (May 2) and will apply to all platforms that were previously showing IPL matches in Pakistan.