Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is confident of this year's edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) gaining the organisation profits despite it being suspended without its knock-outs being played in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While the tournament got indefinitely postponed at the culmination of the league-stage only, as per a report from PTI, the PCB is set to make profits from four major commercial deals, including broadcasting and digital media. 

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"We will earn more compared to the four previous editions because majority of the matches (in earlier editions) had to be held in the UAE where we generally had low crowds and commercial deals were also not very profitable," a source close to the matter told PTI. 

"The losses will come from four matches being held behind closed doors in Karachi and Lahore but the gate money receipts are minimal compared to the profits we will make from commercial, sponsorship and broadcasting deals."

It remains to be seen whether the remaining fixtures will be played at a later date or the tournament will be cancelled with probably league-stage table-toppers Multan Sultans declared champions in the given circumstances. 

"Some matches were hit by bad weather and reduced overs but we will still make good profits from the PSL this time despite four matches being held in empty stadiums," the source added. 

The board would also refund the money to ticket holders of the semi-finals and the final. 

"We have already sent letter of intents to two of our commercial partners and we are expecting them to pay the amount by next week," another source said, adding, however, that while matches were insured as is the policy for all tournaments, the insurance was for matches being hit by terrorism, closure of airspace, fire only. 

"So we can't make any claims as we postponed the matches due to the virus and other games were hit by bad weather."

It is understood that the PCB is still working out the exact profit figures from the tournament. The expanses would also be known once everything is compiled and audited. 

The board, meanwhile, has closed down its offices, the national cricket academy in Lahore and released coaches on leave due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

(Inputs from PTI)