In a strong show of solidarity and symbolic protest, sports content platform Cricbuzz has removed the Pakistan Super League (PSL) section from its app and website, shortly after Indian streaming service Fancode announced it would no longer broadcast PSL 2025 matches. The decision comes just hours after the deadly terror attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including one foreign tourist, and left the country in mourning.
The brutal incident took place at the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam, marking one of the deadliest assaults on civilians since the 2019 Pulwama attack. The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility.
In a public address following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the incident as “an attack on the soul of India” and pledged that “terrorism will not go unpunished.” His remarks drew nationwide support and prompted swift action from both government and private players.
Fancode, which held the exclusive rights to stream PSL 2025 in India, was the first major platform to act by suspending all broadcasts. Cricbuzz followed suit, removing all PSL-related coverage, fixtures, and match updates from both its app and website.
Why did Cricbuzz remove PSL matches?
Cricbuzz’s move is widely viewed as a direct response to the Fancode suspension and a broader reflection of national sentiment. As outrage over the Pahalgam attack intensified, calls grew louder for Indian companies to sever entertainment and sporting ties with Pakistan — especially involving events like PSL that enjoy significant digital presence.
Will PSL matches be available anywhere in India now?
As of now, no Indian platform, including Fancode, has the rights or has expressed intent to stream PSL 2025. The removal of content by Cricbuzz further signals a blanket blackout of the tournament within India’s digital and media ecosystem.
Is this the first time PSL or Pakistan cricket content was removed in India?
While political tensions have affected sporting events in the past, this is among the most decisive and synchronized actions taken by both government-aligned and private sector platforms in response to a terror attack. The removal of PSL marks a rare but clear cultural and commercial rebuke in the realm of sports media.
The decision underscores the rising sensitivity around cross-border engagements and serves as a clear message that cricket — often seen as a unifying force — will not be insulated from larger geopolitical realities.
